Six-year-old Heidi invites people to join her on epic 603-mile walk

A six-year-old who is nearly halfway through a 603-mile walking challenge is calling on people to join her for a day to raise money for dementia research.

Heidi Barker, from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, began her challenge to walk the equivalent distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats in March. She completes walks in her local area with family and friends then totals up the mileage and marks her progress on a map.

Heidi, who enjoys learning about the history, culture and people of the towns she visits virtually during her walk, is nearly halfway through her challenge having clocked up around 250 miles of her 603-mile target. She has raised more than £6,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

She chose to support the UK’s leading dementia research charity in honour of her great uncle Ian who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year.

Now Heidi, who is supported in her challenge by proud parents David and Claire, is encouraging people to join her with the Hike with Heidi event on Sunday 26 September. To celebrate her seventh birthday and mark World Alzheimer’s Month, she is asking children and grown-ups to walk two miles in their local area and raise money for her chosen charity.

Heidi said: “I am really enjoying this adventure. I want to raise a lot of money so that I can help my great uncle Ian and people like him.

“I’m looking for lots of people to join me and walk two miles and get sponsored to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Let's show dementia what us kids are made of!”

To sign up to take part go to:

www.justgiving.com/campaign/HikewithHeidi

You can also keep track of Heidi’s progress in her challenge by following @walk4alzheimers on Twitter.

Simon McDermott, Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Regional Fundraising Officer for the North West, said: “We are in awe of Heidi for taking on her epic challenge to raise funds for dementia research and we hope lots of people will join her and do their own sponsored walks on 26 September.

“The vital funds raised will help us power world-class studies to make life-changing breakthroughs for people with dementia, like her great uncle Ian.

“There are nearly 1 million people throughout the UK living with dementia. In the UK today, there are no treatments to stop or slow the diseases that cause dementia, but with support from amazing supporters like Heidi, our researchers are working hard to change that.”

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK visit:

www.alzheimersresearchuk.org