On Air Now

Breakfast

6:00am - 10:00am

Now Playing

Jesta

Firework

INTERVIEWS: Mums are going to Iceland on Morecambe charity trek

Mums Jodie Verdon Mayor and Roz Wareing, with baby Ruby and the Iceland flag

Mums have spoken of their excitement ahead of the first ever overseas fundraising trek run by a Morecambe charity for disabled people.

Jodie Verdon Mayor and Roz Wareing are parents of children who go to Unique Kidz & Co on Woodhill Lane.

Unique Kidz & Co is organising a five-day trek across Iceland in summer 2026 and is encouraging supporters of the charity to sign up to take part.

The trip will begin on July 1 2026 and include three nights trekking through the Icelandic wilderness

Jodie, who has signed up for the trip, said: "I've just put my deposit down for next year. I'm really excited as well as really scared!

"Hopefully I can put my son's name on my T-shirt and get a really good photo up on the Iceland mountains!"

Roz, who is also going to sign up, said: "I've been thinking about if for a few weeks now and I'm going to make the plunge. It's something on the bucket list to do!"

Listen to Jodie and Roz talking about Unique Kidz & Co and the Iceland fundraiser

Denise Armer and Jane Halpin, founders of the charity, themselves set up Unique Kidz as mums of disabled children, because of a lack of facilities in the area.

They opened the charity in 2009 with its first after school club, where 65 young people attended.

Now the charity has 187 disabled young people on their system and an ever-growing waiting list.

Its services now include afterschool, holiday and weekend clubs for children aged 5-19 with disabilities, a stay and play group for children under five, and daytime support and evening/weekend sessions for young adults aged 18-30 with disabilities.

LISTEN to Denise and Jane speaking about Unique Kidz and the Iceland trip

Read more: Morecambe charity for disabled youngsters to hold first ever international trek - Beyond Radio

"We feel we need to give something back and we want a challenge, and we think this is going to be the right one for us," said Jane.

"Hopefully all the places will go and we'll all have a good time!"

Denise said: "It will be an experience, I'm sure. I've always wanted to go to Iceland. We are a double act and I think we'll drag each other through it!"

For more information on the Iceland charity challenge, email Unique Kidz Fundraiser Chris Pilkington at fundraising@uniquekidzandco.org.uk or visit HERE.

The four mums were speaking on the day of the visit of Amanda Parker, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, to Unique Kidz & Co.

 Here is the Lord Lieutenant pictured with Denise and Jane.

After her visit, the Lord Lieutenant told Beyond Radio: "I've never seen anything like (Unique Kidz & Co) before.

"The two ladies who set that up are phenomenal. What two mums can achieve when they really set their minds to it, just blows the mind.

"These young people, who've been given the opportunity to spend time there, and their parents, the support they've received, it's absolutely outstanding.

"There were a few hugs, I'm not the most huggy person, but I was quite happy to be hugged!

"It was really good. The energy in the room and the pleasure they were having in the various activities was just a joy. That's what you want to see young people doing, and a lot of disabled children don't get the opportunity."

The Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire acts as His Majesty King Charles III's representative in the county.

Here are more photos from her visit to Unique Kidz & Co on Wednesday morning.

More from Local News

Recently Played Songs