Inspirational girl completes 50 mile walk for hospital charity

An inspirational five-year-old girl has completed a 50 mile walk to raise funds for the Health Tree Foundation.

Ava Corlett, from Kirton-in-Lindsey, finished her mammoth challenge at the Disney Ward at Scunthorpe hospital and managed to drum up over £1,000!

She decided she wanted to raise money after hearing about a national shortage of doctors on a local radio station. Ava asked her mum what she could do to help and after looking through charities, they settled on HTF. The challenge saw Ava walk 1.6 miles every day throughout January and she also gave up sweets and chocolates for a month.

Ava’s mum Charlotte said: “I suggested she could do a sponsored walk but it was Ava’s idea to walk 50 miles! The story about the shortage seems to have really stuck with her as she kept asking me what she could do to help people who are poorly as she is too young to be a doctor yet.

“It has definitely taken a lot of dedication. She was so excited at the thought of helping people who are unwell. It has been really good doing the walks together. We never imagined we would raise over £1,000 as we originally set a target of £250.”

The money was raised through a JustGiving page which was set up by Charlotte. Friends, family and colleagues all donated to the page and there was even an anonymous donation of £50.

Speaking after she’d finished the challenge, Ava said: “It was good but it was tiring.”

Staff, family and the charity’s mascot Scrubs the Bear all gathered to meet Ava as she crossed the finish line.

Emma Hartley, Scunthorpe community champion for the Health Tree Foundation, said: “The money that Ava has raised for the charity is absolutely fantastic. She has done an amazing job and she is a little star!”

The money raised will go towards the safe space bed that will be going on the Disney Ward for children with complex needs.

The Health Tree Foundation and Ava’s family wished to thank the following companies and individuals:

• Three B’s Bakes for donating the cake
• Balloons Galore for the ‘50’ balloon and £20 sponsorship
• Instant Print for the banner
• Calvin Taylor Lee, of One Click Photographer, for the photos with the family on the ward.