Olympic gymnast joins York memorial race

Nile Wilson from Leeds made history at Rio 2016 when he became the first Briton to claim an Olympic medal on the horizontal bar

A former Olympic athlete is to join a charity fun run in memory of a York teenager.

Millie Wright, 13, from Poppleton, died from a rare immune system disorder in August 2021.

Following her death her parents Ceri and Nigel Wright set up the Millie Wright Children's Charity.

Its patron, former gymnast Nile Wilson, said he was "excited" to join the Run For Millie later.

Millie Wright was 13 years old when she died in August 2021

Mr Wilson said he was honoured to be patron of the charity and that the event in Poppleton was for "everyone and anyone".

"You can run, jog, walk – just as long as you have fun," he added.

Mr Wright said he was "thrilled" with the amount of support for the event - now in its third year.

"It's so heart-warming to see that so many people have connected with our cause and have chosen to join with us in raising money so that we can continue to support families taking care of children in hospital with life-threatening conditions."

He added the run would help "celebrate what would have been Millie’s 16th birthday" and would raise important funds for the charity's Feed the Parents initiative.

The Run For Millie race is now in its third year

Based at Leeds Children’s Hospital, the charity provides support for children and their families throughout their stay in hospital.

Mr Wright said: "Ever since the charity launched, we have been campaigning for parents to be fed in hospital when caring for their seriously ill child.

"We know from our own experience while looking after Millie just how important this is.

"The money raised by this event will be used to provide food for parents and carers looking after seriously ill children.”

The event consists of a three-mile (5k) and a six-mile (10k) run, and is due to begin at 10:00 BST from the Green in Upper Poppleton.

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