The mum of a young girl who survived a brain swelling is cycling 300km in the hope of transforming a patch of land into an area for children and families visiting The Whittington Hospital.

Islington Gazette: Edie and her mother Lucy, who is cycling 300km across Kerala to raise money to help improve a patch of land at the Whittington Hospital. Picture: L SEARLEEdie and her mother Lucy, who is cycling 300km across Kerala to raise money to help improve a patch of land at the Whittington Hospital. Picture: L SEARLE (Image: Archant)

Lucy Searle’s daughter Edie, 10, was diagnosed with encephalitis after being rushed to the Archway hospital in 2011 suffering from a seizure.

Doctors told Lucy and Edie’s dad David to expect the worst and warned them if their daughter pulled through she would be left with epilepsy.

Edie survived, but now has to take regular trips to The Whittington – where in the summer she underwent surgery to regulate her brain’s electrical activity – besides taking medication daily.

As a thank-you to the hospita, Lucy is now preparing to cycle across Kerala, India, to help give disused land sandwiched between wards a much-needed makeover.

Islington Gazette: Edie and her mother Lucy, who is cycling 300km across Kerala to raise money to help improve a patch of land at the Whittington Hospital. Picture: L SEARLEEdie and her mother Lucy, who is cycling 300km across Kerala to raise money to help improve a patch of land at the Whittington Hospital. Picture: L SEARLE (Image: Archant)

Lucy, who has an older daughter, Lola, said: “Hospitals can be miserable places, but for people like us, who spend a lot of time at The Whittington, the actual surroundings can make a massive difference to our experience.”

The self-employed property journalist from Dukes Avenue, Muswell Hill, is now training for the organised ride in March at gym Equal Results along with family friend and Whittington paediatric consultant Kerry Robinson – who specialises in epilepsy and will join her for the trip.

Asked about her fundraising method, Lucy said: “We wanted to go for something that would fire imaginations and be a challenge for us.

“Edie has gone through so much pain and trauma and there’s no way we can match that.

Islington Gazette: The patch of land at the Whittington Hospital needs restructuring and resurfacing work. Picture: L SEARLEThe patch of land at the Whittington Hospital needs restructuring and resurfacing work. Picture: L SEARLE (Image: Archant)

“If I could take away her pain I would.

“But if we can do something making us feel a bit of pain, in no way matching Edie’s, I will feel like we’re a bit worthier of the money.”

For Edie, a St James’ Primary School pupil who sells loom bands to fundraise for The Whittington outside her school, her mother’s cycle ride is “really exciting”.

Lucy said: “She’s enjoying watching the amount go up.”

Islington Gazette: Edie, mum Lucy, dad David and older sister Lola. Picture: Lucy SearleEdie, mum Lucy, dad David and older sister Lola. Picture: Lucy Searle (Image: Archant)

To sponsor Lucy and Kerry go to justgiving.com/fundraising/whittington-hospital-childrens-play-space