A BEREAVED mother will be walking through Wirral as part of a challenge raising money in memory of her five-year-old daughter.

Natalia Spencer, from Cheltenham will be visiting Wirral as part of her ‘Walk of Love’ which she began in Dorset almost 100 days ago, aiming to walk 6,000 miles around the coast of Great Britain.

Her daughter, Elizabeth passed away in December from a rare illness called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a condition which shut down her major organs and cut off the blood supply to her limbs.

Natalia said, "Elizabeth particularly loved the beach and the sea and we went to the seaside a lot.

“After she passed away I went to the seaside quite a few times and I realised that it is the only place that helps me to feel better and connect with her.”

“The walk has been incredibly challenging in places, and reaching the 1,000 mile point was a very special milestone on my journey.”

Elizabeth spent 18 days on life support in Bristol Children’s Hospital, but despite doctors’ best efforts passed away on December 10.

Natalia now hopes to raise £100,000 for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.

Bristol Children’s Hospital treats 100,000 critically ill children and babies a year from across a larger geographic area than any other children’s hospital in England, including the whole of the South West and South Wales.

Natalia’s ‘Walk of Love’ started on Valentine’s Day at Durdle Door in Dorset, the last beach she and Elizabeth visited together.

She has since covered almost 1,500 miles, covering Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, and the entire coast of Wales.

Natalia will arrive in Hoylake on Tuesday June 8 and is inviting anyone who would like to walk with her to join her for some of the way.

She added: “Walking as far as 20 miles each day is exhausting but the coastline here is beautiful and I have met so many wonderful people along the way who have walked with me, offered me somewhere to stay, or somewhere to have a cup of coffee and a rest. Their kindness and support is a huge comfort and means I am not on my own.

“I hope that by completing this walk I will be able to bring something positive from Elizabeth’s death.”

“Her memory will live on through the people I meet along the way and all those who are touched by her legacy.”

Natalia’s walk has already raised more than £40,000.

Anyone who would like to donate should visit www.justgiving.com/Natalia-Spencer or text ELIF55 and your donation amount to 70070.

You can follow her progress at www.elizabethsfootprint.com.