Former England, Leeds and Manchester City footballer Danny Mills is set to Shine this September as the pundit begins his quest to become Celebrity Masterchef 2012 as well as completing the first Archie Mills Memorial Challenge.
The defender, who played for Leeds United from 1999 to 2004, cooked up a storm in the Celebrity Masterchef kitchen as the popular BBC cookery competition hit our television screens.
But it is his work as patron for the charity Shine that has lead him to his most significant challenge of the year.
Racing in memory of Archie, the son he lost 10 years ago to spina bifida, Mills will cycle over 200 miles from Leeds to London.
The following day, he will complete the Olympic-Plus distance of the Virgin Active London Triathlon.
It is expected that many cycling enthusiasts will join him on the Leeds to London route, which has been divided into six stages and will travel through Leeds, Doncaster, Newark, Stamford, St. Neots, Stevenage and London.
Mills will set off from Elland Road at midnight on the evening of Friday, September 21.
He said: “It’s hard to explain how essential the work of Shine is.
“What we went through in losing Archie was terrible.
“The advice and support from Shine enabled us to cope at a time when all seemed lost.’
In addition to the huge physical challenge he is taking on, Mills will also be promoting a celebrity cookbook, which is entirely the work of Rebecca Morris, pictured below.
Rebecca is a young lady living with a debilitating form of hydrocephalus, which affects around one in 1,000 babies that are born in the UK.
Rebecca has collated 20 celebrity recipes into a book that will generate both awareness and funds for the charity’s work.
Mills added: “The book that Rebecca has put together is great example of how Shine impacts the lives of its members.
“The support Rebecca received from Shine enabled her to carry on.
“She then wanted to give something back.”
If you want to join Danny on part of the cycling route from Leeds to London, visit www.shinecharity.org.uk/leeds2london.
To sponsor him, visit www.justgiving.com/ArchieMills or text ARCH90 £5 to 70070.
For more information about the charity, visit www.shinecharity.org.uk.
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