A WIRRAL couple has raised more than £10,000 for research into a rare heart disease in memory of their baby daughter.

Leilah Hayden was just 15-months-old when she died of rare heart disease myocarditis in 2015.

Her parents Alicia and John set up the Leilah Foundation to raise cash to help fund research into the disease.

The charity has now surpassed its milestone target of £10,000.

This cash will now go to Sparks, a children’s medical research charity that supports clinicians and scientists who have the skills to improve the lives of many children living with a condition which could affect them for life.

Each project put forward to the organisation is reviewed by both medical professionals and a panel of parents.

Alicia told the Globe: “We have just reached more than £10,000 making us eligible to be in touch with Sparks, an organisation that helps fund research and then Great Ormond Street hospital.

“We are looking to fund research into virus’ to prevent people from going through what we have with Leilah.

“When Leilah passed away we did anything we could like bag packs and car boot sales. Yesterday we had a huge donation from a lady which pushed us way ahead of our target.

“After this we will probably have another fundraising target to meet, this is just the first milestone.

“It was a very emotional day when I saw the target. It was a mixture of happy and sad. I can’t thank people enough for everything they have done for Leilah.

“In September we have the Tough Mudder challenge where 13 adults will take part and six kids in the Mini Mudder all going to research.

“Leilah is living on through us and we want to make her proud by funding this research.”

For information about the charity visit http://theleilahfoundation.bigcartel.com/