Kaci (10) completes her ‘emotional’ charity walk helped by cheering friends

She covered the distance from her home on Asfordby Road to Burton Lazars, and back, in aid of Newlife, which supports disabled children with grants for specialised equipment.

Kaci had initially hoped to raise £500 but her challenge captured the imagination of people to such an extent that she now incredibly has pledges totalling more than £5,000.

Proud mum, Kym Durrance, who was by her side the whole way, said: “Kaci was very excited and nervous before we set off, but once we got going there were friends, family and teachers lining parts of the route, in a socially distanced way, to cheer us on.

“There were lots of people we didn’t know supporting us on the route too.

“We were very emotional by the time we got home and Kaci was tired, but she soon bounced back.”

Kaci usually needs a wheelchair or walker for longer distances, but she was determined not to use them for the walk, which she completed in three hours.

The money she has raised will help disabled and terminally ill children around the UK to get specialist beds, seats, buggies, wheelchairs, walking frames and car seats to keep them safe and improve their quality of life.

She chose the charity, which also runs the only emergency equipment service that aims to get loans of specialist disability equipment to families in crisis anywhere in the UK within 72 hours, because it has helped friends of Kaci’s family get the equipment they needed.

Mum, Kym, added: “It’s been so wonderful to see how many people have donated to Kaci’s walk to help Newlife.

“We are in difficult times with people being furloughed or losing their jobs, so for people to have responded so positively has been unexpected but so lovely to see.

“Kaci also wants to say a great big thank you to everyone who has supported her.

“She has enjoyed it all so much she said she doesn’t know how she can stop helping Newlife now.”

High Street retailers, River Island, who have supported Newlife for the past 30 years, and The Regatta Group, who have supported the charity for the last five, were so thrilled to hear about Kaci’s fundraising for event they kitted her out with lots of warm walking outfits and accessories so she was snug and stylish during the walk.

Newlife CEO, Sheila Brown, who was there to see Kaci off at the start of her walk, said: “I can’t thank Kaci and her family enough for supporting Newlife. “This has come at a particularly difficult time for the charity, which has seen a doubling of demand for some of our services at a time when all our stores are temporarily closed and many of the fundraising events we rely on are cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Go to Kaci’s Go Fund Me page at: www.newlife.support/KaciWalks if you would like to sponsor her.