😂💜 Behind the Scenes with Makayla – The Other Side of Team Millie 🐰🌈

When most people think about Team Millie, they might picture the road trip, Buddy the Bunny, the miles travelled through Europe, the photographs from Spain and all the adventures along the way.

But while we were busy travelling thousands of miles on Buddy’s Journey to Benidorm and Back, there was another very important member of Team Millie working hard behind the scenes.

Makayla. 💜

And she certainly wasn't taking the easy route!

Makayla decided to take on her very own set of sponsored challenges to help raise money and awareness in memory of her little sister, Millie Rose. 🐰🌈

And if you've been following along, you'll know that some of these challenges were definitely designed to make her laugh, make everyone else laugh… and possibly make her question why she agreed to them in the first place! 😂🙈

😂 The Challenges Begin!

Makayla's sponsored challenges were a mixture of silly, funny, embarrassing and downright ridiculous activities.

But she threw herself into them.

Amongst her challenges were:

🚶‍♀️ Silly walks

Because apparently walking normally just wasn't enough!

🦀 Imitating a crab

One of those challenges that sounds simple until you actually have to do it. 😂

🤸‍♀️ Trying a handstand

Which sounds impressive… until gravity gets involved!

🏴‍☠️ The Jack Sparrow walk

Because every fundraising challenge apparently needs a little pirate energy!

🌊 Reciting the Scout Laws while in a natural body of water

Probably one of the more unusual challenges on the list!

And these were just some of them.

There were plenty of other challenges along the way, each bringing their own combination of laughter, embarrassment and "what on earth are you doing?" moments! 😂🙈

💜 More Than Just a Bit of Fun

Of course, watching Makayla attempting silly walks, crab impressions and handstands is definitely entertaining.

There have been plenty of moments where we've laughed at her.

And I'm sure there have been moments where Makayla has wondered what she had got herself into! 😂

But behind all of the silliness is something much deeper.

Makayla isn't simply completing challenges.

She's doing them for Millie.

She's taking part in something that gives her a way of remembering her little sister, talking about her and helping to keep her name and story alive.

And that makes every silly walk, every ridiculous challenge and every embarrassing moment mean so much more.

🐰 Two Sisters, One Very Special Bond

Millie was Makayla's little sister.

That bond doesn't disappear just because Millie isn't physically here anymore.

It's changed.

It's painful.

And there are moments when I'm sure it feels incredibly unfair.

But through everything, Makayla continues to carry her little sister with her.

Sometimes that's through fundraising.

Sometimes it's through talking about Millie.

Sometimes it's through wearing something that reminds her of her.

And sometimes… it's by agreeing to do something completely ridiculous for a sponsored challenge! 😂💜

There is something incredibly special about watching Makayla continue to include Millie in her life.

Because Millie should be here doing these things too.

She should be watching her big sister being silly.

She should be laughing at her.

She should be joining in.

She should be telling Makayla that she's doing it wrong.

And I think that's one of the hardest parts.

But even though we can't change that, we can make sure that Millie remains part of the things we do.

🌈 Turning Grief Into Something Positive

None of this makes losing Millie any easier.

Fundraising doesn't take away the grief.

Challenges don't fill the empty space.

And keeping busy doesn't mean that we don't miss her.

But sometimes, doing something positive in Millie's memory gives us somewhere to put all that love.

Makayla has taken that love and turned it into action.

She's using her voice.

She's raising awareness.

She's challenging herself.

And she's helping to support a cause that is incredibly important to our family — The Great North Children's Hospital. 💜

Every challenge becomes another opportunity to talk about Millie.

Another opportunity to tell people about the little girl behind Team Millie.

Another opportunity to make people stop and think about childhood cancer and the families affected by it.

And another opportunity to say her name.

Millie Rose. 💜🐰

😂 The Funny Moments Matter Too

One thing I think we've learned throughout all of this is that it's okay to laugh.

Even when life has been incredibly painful.

Even when grief is sitting right beside us.

There have been so many moments during this journey where laughter has been exactly what we needed.

Watching Makayla attempt some of these challenges has definitely provided plenty of those moments! 😂

And those moments matter.

Because amongst the sadness, there are still smiles.

Amongst the tears, there is still laughter.

And amongst the difficult days, there are still memories being made.

I think Millie would have loved some of the silliness.

She would probably have laughed at Makayla.

And knowing Millie, she might even have wanted to join in! 🐰💜

💪 We Couldn't Be Prouder of Makayla

As her mum, I couldn't be more proud of her.

She's had to navigate something no child should ever have to experience — losing her little sister.

And yet she's continued to find ways to remember Millie, celebrate her life and keep her part of our family.

She's shown determination.

She's shown courage.

She's shown love.

And she's shown that even through something incredibly difficult, she can still stand up and say:

"I'm doing this for my sister."

That means more than words can really explain.

🐰💜 This Is Makayla. This Is Team Millie.

Behind the photographs.

Behind the road trips.

Behind Buddy's Journey.

Behind the fundraising.

Behind the challenges.

There are real people.

A family trying to navigate life without one very important person.

A big sister trying to keep her little sister's memory alive.

And a little girl whose name continues to bring people together.

This is Makayla.

This is Team Millie.

And this is all for Millie. 🐰💜🌈

Every challenge.

Every silly walk.

Every crab impression.

Every handstand attempt.

Every pirate walk.

Every ridiculous moment.

Every mile.

Every memory.

All of it carries one very special name.

Millie Rose. 💜

Forever 9.

Forever loved.

Forever remembered.

And forever Makayla's little sister. 🐰💜

Keep being you, Makayla. We are incredibly proud of you. ❤️