A MUM has been cheered along in Barry in her effort to complete a 6000-mileUK-wide Walk of Love in memory of her five-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

41-year-old Natalia Spencer, of Cheltenham, originally from Ukraine, began her coastal walk challenge on Valentine’s Day, February 14, with the aim of raising funds for the Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The youngster was taken ill in November with a relatively common virus which triggered an autoimmune condition known as Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

The rare condition caused Elizabeth’s body to go into septic shock, shutting down her major organs and cutting off the blood supply to her limbs.

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

Ms Spencer now hopes to raise £100,000 for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, in her daughter’s memory.

Her Walk of Love started at Durdle Door, in Dorset, the last beach she and Elizabeth visited together.

She has since then covered more than 600 miles, arriving in Barry on April 13, her 52nd day of walking.

Ms Spencer 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.

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

“Walking as many as 20 miles a day is exhausting but I am so proud to have covered more than 700 miles already. Every day is a new day and I feel that this is the only thing I could be doing right now.

“I feel incredibly privileged that people have come to walk with me and share my experience. Their kindness and support is a huge comfort to me and means I am not on my own.”

Barry mum Vanessa Steen, 45, and her son Danny, 24, joined Sally as she walked between Cardiff Road and Barry Island.

She said: “A fellow driving instructor added a lot of us that raised money for Children In Need last year to her page and said we are a friendly bunch. Her story touched me that she is so brave to take on this journey all on her own in memory of her daughter and to raise money for the Bristol Hospital for other children.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Natalia-Spencer or text ELIF55 and your donation amount to 70070.

Follow Natalia’s progress at www.elizabethsfootprint.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Elizabethsfootprints

For more details, visit www.grandappeal.org.uk