We never fail to be amazed by the strength of parents who have lost children and commit to making a difference, and everyone should hear the story of grieving British mother Natalia Spencer.
Natalia is planning to walk the entire length of the British coastline in order to raise money for charity, after losing her five-year-old daughter Elizabeth to an auto-immune condition just two months ago.
On her Just Giving page (link here), Natalia explained how her precious daughter became ill in November with what the family took to be a chest infection. As is turned out, Elizabeth actually had secondary HLH – a rare condition affecting the immune system.
Elizabeth’s condition swiftly deteriorated, and she went on to spend 18 days on life support in the intensive care unit of Bristol Children’s Hospital. Tragically, she passed away on December 10.
Now, in a tribute to Elizabeth’s memory and to raise important funds for the hospital, Natalia is planning to walk a staggering 6,000 miles around the British coast.
“I have fond memories of taking Elizabeth to the seaside; she was at her happiest there. I now feel comforted and connected to Elizabeth when I am at the coast. To help deal with my grief, I have decided to combine these two things in an effort to bring something positive from these tragic circumstances. I am taking a sponsored coastal walk of some 6,000 miles around the entire coastline of the UK mainland. I will be starting my walk from Durdle Door in Dorset, the last seaside location that I visited with Elizabeth,” she wrote.
Natalia is hoping to raise £100,000 for the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal children’s charity, which has strong associations with Bristol Children’s Hospital.
What an inspirational and courageous woman. We’re wishing her all the best with her campaign.
