THE mother of a five-year-old girl who passed away from a rare illness will soon arrive in Milford Haven as part of her ‘Walk of Love’ around the coast of Great Britain.

Natalia Spencer, from Cheltenham, is walking 6,000 miles around the coast to raise money in memory of her daughter Elizabeth.

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

This 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, but despite doctors’ best efforts died December 10.

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

Bristol Children’s Hospital treats 100,000 critically ill children and babies a year from an extensive catchment area, covering the entire South West of England, Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

Natalia’s ‘Walk of Love’ started on Valentine’s Day at Durdle Door in Dorset, the last beach she and Elizabeth visited together.

She will reach Milford Haven on May 5, her 72nd day of walking.

From Milford Haven she will walk around the Dale Peninsula and up the Pembrokeshire coast. She is inviting anyone who would like to walk with her to join her for part of the journey.

Natalia 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.

“The walk has been challenging in places but arriving in Wales was a huge milestone, and the coastline here is beautiful.

"Walking up to 20 miles each day is exhausting but I have met so many incredible people along the way, who have walked with me, offered me a place to stay, or just somewhere to have a cup of coffee and a rest.

"Their kindness and support is a huge comfort to me and means I am not on my own.

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

"Her memory will live on through the people I meet along the way and all those who are touched by her legacy.”

Natalia’s walk has already raised more than £30,000.

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

You can follow her progress at www.elizabethsfootprint.com.