Legendary Olympic cyclist Bradley Wiggins has met a two-year-old fan who he raised awareness for during her heart transplant.

Beatrix Archbold fell ill when she was just 15 months old and it was soon realised that she would need a heart transplant.

During this process she was given a mechanical heart.

Wiggins and his team reached out to the family during the search to help boost awareness of organ donations.

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device for just £1.50 a week, click here

Now, 12 weeks after a successful operation Wiggins organised a chance to meet Bea and her dad in Sunderland.

Beatrix's dad, Terry Archbold, explained how much the support has been for the family.

The dad, from Burnopfield, said: "The support from Bradley and his team has been superb.

"She fell ill when she was just 15 months old with heart failure.

"She needed a heart transplant to save her.

"For months she was kept alive with a mechanical heart.

"During her time in hospital Bradley's agent reached out to us after hearing about Bea and offered to help raise awareness about organ donations for us.

"They were absolutely fabulous. He arranged other celebrities to talk about the issue too.

"Bea had her heart tranplant 12 weeks ago and it was touch and go.

The Northern Echo: Wiggins signed a jersey for Bea

"Bradley reached out last week to say he would be up in Sunderland.

"We met him at The Fire Station in Sunderland and he was great with Bea.

"It's a difficult topic to talk about (organ donating), especially when it's about kids.

"Their support has been fabulous in raising awareness about the issue.

The Northern Echo: Terry Archbold, Beatrix Archbold, Ben O'Connor and Bradley Wiggins

"His efforts to raise it as an issue and getting other figures like Gazza and Kevin Keegan involved has been incredible.

Read more

"I don't have enough words to thank him."

Mr Archbold said that since her operation Bea has loved going on bike rides with him.

He explained that she was "very excited" when he showed her videos of Bradley when he was racing to show how fast he could go.