A Santa Dash will take place at Birkenhead Park next week to raise cash in memory of baby Leilah Hayden.

Leilah was just 15-months-old when she passed away suddenly on January 13, 2015.

It took 12 weeks for her parents to discover that her cause of death was myocarditis.

Myocarditis is a disease marked by inflammation and damage of the heart muscle and accounts for thousands of sudden deaths each year.

Since her death, Leilah's parents Alicia Mearns and John Hayden created The Leilah Foundation to raise awareness for the disease and an overall goal to raise £32,000.

For over 20 weeks members of Be Military Fit (BMF) Birkenhead have been taking part in their own fundraiser to run a combined 3,500 miles for the foundation.

The Santa Dash on Saturday, December 14 will be the end of their mammoth challenge but other festive fundraisers are welcome to take part.

Leilah's dad John told the Globe: "BMF Birkenhead had contacted us through the foundation to say that they wanted to raise cash for our fundraiser.

"I was shocked because we try to do all the fundraising on our own so we were overwhelmed that anyone would want to do something for our charity.

"I took part in one of the fitness classes and met them all. We're so very grateful and it means a lot."

Anyone who wants to take part in the Santa Dash can do by turning up at Birkenhead Park just before the race kicks off at 10am.

A small donation of £2 to £5 for The Leilah Foundation is required to take part.

BMF Birkenhead organiser Kevin said: "We have been running 3,500 miles over 20 weeks in Leilah's memory.

"Each member is assigned so many miles and then I calculate them until we reach the overall goal with everyone paying £25 to take part - this will all go to The Leilah Foundation.

"The Santa Dash is a festive way to end our challenge.

"Anyone can come and take part in the Santa Dash, Children can run up to a mile for £2 and for adults it is £5 for 2 1/2 miles.

"I would just like to say a big thanks to all BMF members who have taken on the challenge and thanks for their support for The Leilah Foundation."

This event will be one of the last events that The Leilah Foundation will hold to raise cash for mydocarditis research.

For information about the charity visit https://www.facebook.com/leilahhayden/

To support the charity, visit http://theleilahfoundation.bigcartel.com/