Family walking 1,200 miles in daughter's memory

Amelie wearing a dark coloured beanie hat with blonde hair in braids. she is wearing a rain mac over a mauve hoodie and is standing outside on a path. Image source, Handout
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Amelie, from Nailsworth, was 14 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour

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A couple, whose 15-year-old daughter died from brain cancer four months after her diagnosis, are more than halfway through their challenge of walking more than 1,200 miles for charity.

Amelie from Nailsworth, was 14 when she was diagnosed with a Diffuse Midline Glioma , externalin March, 2025 - she died in July the same year.

Her parents Tara and Matt, who have been walking from John O'Groats to Land's End are to be joined by Amelie's friends and a teacher from her school as they travel through parts of Gloucestershire.

Tara, who has so far walked more than 900 miles, said her daughter was "full of life" and really sporty and suggested a walk across the length of the UK before she passed away.

Tara knelt down on a path with her dog smiling at the camera. Her walking backpack is to the side next to a bowl of water for her dog.Image source, Handout
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Tara, who has so far walked more than 900 miles, is currently walking through the Gloucestershire leg of the challenge

"I feel like we have this gift now of life and we need to be living it, seeing the sunrises," she said.

"We set off a week after the funeral. Putting one foot in front of the other.

"It's all just been tremendously helpful in figuring out what's just happened to us.

"She was just full of life and full of energy and loved doing things," she added.

Tara (right), Matt (left) and Amelie's younger sister in the centre. They are all wearing walking gear outside and smiling at the camera.Image source, Handout
Image caption,

Tara said her family always loved to go on long walks together

Sir William Romney's School headteacher Will Ruscoe said the walk is a "great tribute" to Amelie's "determination and resilience".

"She brought so much to the school, academically, on the sports field, in the music studio, at performances - she is dearly missed everyday," he said.

"Any research that can go into this terrible disease is going to make a difference so it's wonderful they're raising money for charity."

Tara and Matt have so far raised £20,799.67 towards their target of £30,000 for Abbie's Army and Acorns Children's Hospice.

The couple expect to reach Land's End early January.

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