Liverpool gym coaches tackle tough 70-mile endurance marathon in memory of Mila

Two Liverpool gymnastics coaches are about to embark on a 70-mile ultra-marathon in memory of a little girl called Mila who died from cancer.

Nicky Kenny and Hayley Duncan will tackle ‘The Wall’, a super-tough challenge which will take them over rugged moorland and hills from Carlisle Castle to Newcastle, from Saturday.

The endurance route which follows the historic Hadrian’s Wall corridor, is well-known for breaking even the most experienced runners and trekkers and will be a gruelling test for the pair from Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy.

But they say it will be nothing compared with what Mila, and others like her, have gone through.

Hayley, 40, said:

“Knowing how tough it was for her will keep both of us going. Mila had this great sense of humour – and I know I can’t not finish because I’ll picture her laughing and saying ‘are you giving up’?”

Mila Facenfield was just six years old when she passed away in July last year after battling leukaemia for more than two years.

She faced her own tough tests, but they remember her as the bright, funny, cheeky, loving, and full of character little girl who, when she was well, went to Bounce Tots.

Jay Scouler, director of Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, said:

“Mila brought so much joy into the gym, and everyone who knew her remembers the sparkle she carried with her. Her passing was absolutely heartbreaking, and our love and deepest condolences remain with Mila’s family.”

After Mila’s funeral, Nicky, 53, and Hayley were deeply moved by the support given to Mila’s family by The Joshua Tree, a charity that supports families of children with cancer.

So they decided they wanted to do something extraordinary in Mila’s memory and raise money for The Joshua Tree to help other families facing the unimaginable like hers did.

It’s a huge personal challenge for Nicky and Hayley who are both popular coaches at the Gaskill Road Academy in Speke.

Nicky runs the Bounce Tots pre-school programme and disability trampoline gymnastics sessions, and Hayley coaches gymnastics generally and works with its club squads.

Between them, they’ve supported hundreds of children and families across the city over the years, and they’ve recently launched a new business, Baby Movement Liverpool, focusing on movement and development for babies.

Their work has always centred around supporting children and families – which makes this challenge in memory of Mila for The Joshua Tree even more meaningful.

Nicky is already a runner, but this distance is far beyond anything she has attempted before. Hayley, remarkably, had never run more than three miles before starting her training.

Yet, over the last four months they have both trained hard, pushing themselves physically and mentally, and stepping completely outside their comfort zone for the challenge they’re so passionate about.

Hayley explains:

“We wanted to do something and so we did Miles for Mila, and went up Moel Famau, but we didn’t raise as much money as we wanted, so we decided to do more. We wanted a real challenge – and then we saw this race for which we have 26 hours to cover 70 Miles.

“Nicky’s run long distance before but I’d only done 5K – slowly! So I’ve been building my stamina – I’ve currently done 35 miles so I’m halfway there – and we’ve both been training really hard.

“We start at 7am on Saturday and we need to finish by 9am Sunday, so it will be tough, especially going though the night when it will be dark. And the toughest challenge will be tiredness.

“It will be mentally tough as much as physically, and so you have to believe you can do it. And we do. We’ll do it for Mila and families like hers. Any struggle will be worth it for them.”

Jay says:

“As a gym, we are incredibly proud of them both. Our club has always been more than just a place to train — it is a family and a community. This challenge reflects the care, strength, and togetherness that sits at the heart of who we are.”

Nicky and Hayley have not set a target, but every donation will help The Joshua Tree continue its vital work supporting families of children with cancer.

Hayley added:

“We just want to raise as much as possible in memory of Mila.”

Find out more and donate to Hayley’s fundraiser for The Joshua Tree here.

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