“Up on the mountaintop, up near the snow,
is the place where the bravest animals go.
The winter is cold, the summer is hot,
and there lived Mildred, a zippy marmot.”
Pett teacher, Milly Voice, says her first children's book is all about inspiring young people to have confidence in themselves. It was also inspired by two other passions; running and the Swiss mountains.
Mildred the Marmot and the Mad Mountain March has just been published and was launched at an event at the Salomon sports shop in Covent Garden on Saturday 28 February.
"The book is an uplifting story of courage, love and camaraderie," she says. "My mission is to encourage and inspire even the very young to believe in themselves, to have a go and try even the smallest challenges."
Milly taught for five years in the Swiss Alps and her love of the mountains inspired her to write the children's story. On her return to the UK a chance contact with a publisher from Dottie Publishing led to the book being brought to life.
The story is illustrated by Mike Young and has already featured in the Amazon charts.
An internationally acclaimed ultra trail runner, she finished as the fourth woman in a 100km mountain race, the Swiss Alps 100. Through donations she raised nearly £13,500 for the Macmillan Horizon Centre in Brighton which supports many local people with cancer, including her own mother.
There's a chance to hear Milly read from her book at a free event at Tillingham on Wednesday 1 April 12.00 - 12.30 & 1.00 - 1.30, followed by a book signing. The afternoon at the vineyard also includes a treasure hunt, colouring sheets and crayons, and a pizza inspired by the story.
You can book tickets at the Tillingham website.
https://www.instagram.com/millyvoiceruns
https://www.instagram.com/dottiepublishing