A young girl from Avery Hill is running a mini marathon for a hospice next month in memory of her grandad.

Mia Whitlock, a year one pupil at Our Lady of the Rosary primary school in Blackfen, signed up to take part in the fun run around Royal Greenwich Park to raise money for the hospice that cared for her grandad in the last three weeks of his life.

“I wanted to do the Mini Marathon for Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice because they really looked after grandad,” said the six-year-old, who was three at the time.

“The Hospice nurses looked after grandad and made him laugh and smile and they were always there for him when he needed them most.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m doing it in memory of grandad and to help the hospice. The Hospice needs more money to help more people.”

Young Mia has supported Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice ever since her grandad Gary Jolley died at the Hospice after a short battle with cancer aged just 53.

Mum Zoe, who used to work in the Hospice’s Blackfen shop on Wellington Parade, said: “I miss dad a lot, he was my best friend. I used to tell him everything. When dad was in the Hospice he would sit in the garden, it was peaceful there and it made him happy.

“I’m so proud of Mia running in his name, she’s such a brave, determined little girl.”

“I’ll do the mini marathon with her, she won’t be on her own.”

Mia will join an estimated 1,000 young mini marathon runners aged 5-16 in the 2.62 mile fun run, walk, jog around Royal Greenwich Park on Sunday 19th April.

Last year 700 children took part and raised £34,647. This year Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice hopes to raise £40,000, enough to enable its doctors and nurses to provide specialist care to Hospice patients for one whole week.

To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MiaWhitlock

The 2015 Mini Marathon is proudly sponsored by John Payne, a leading Independent Estate Agent in South East London.

To find out more about the Mini Marathon for Kids around Royal Greenwich Park and to register your child visit www.communityhospice.org.uk, call 020 8319 9230 or email info@gbch.org.uk.