A little girl’s efforts to complete a charity challenge to walk 43 miles has touched the hearts of a community.

Marilyn Marie Peacock has already walked 12.8 miles and raised the astounding total of £1,751, in just one week, as part of the Alder Hey Hospital children’s summer challenge.

Fun for all the family at Pendleside Hospice Community Day

The 10-year-old is one of many youngsters across the UK who have become ‘superheroes’ for the challenge, which runs until September 1st and involves walking, running, cycling or swimming.

The Peacock family are mum and dad Andrew and Aimee and their children (left to right) Marilyn, Callum and Scarlett. Marilyn is taking part in the Alder Hey Hospital children's summer challenge to walk 43 miles in the school holidays.

placeholder image — The Peacock family are mum and dad Andrew and Aimee and their children (left to right) Marilyn, Callum and Scarlett. Marilyn is taking part in the Alder Hey Hospital children's summer challenge to walk 43 miles in the school holidays.

Marilyn’s parents, Andrew and Aimee, are filled with pride at their daughter’s achievements and also the heart warming response from people in their hometown of Nelson. Andrew said: “I posted Marilyn’s challenge on social media, just to try and boost the total raised a little bit. The response from people, the kind comments and well wishes and donations has bowled us over. All Marilyn wants to do is walk for Alder Hey, a place that means so much to us all.”

The caring youngster has undergone two major surgeries at the Liverpool hospital after a scan revealed she had a hole in her heart while Aimee was pregnant with Marilyn. Surgeons fitted newborn Marilyn, who is named after her late grandmother, with a ventricular assist device to improve blood flow and keep her heart chamber pumping. An added complication for Marilyn is she also has a blood disorder and the slightest knock can cause excessive bruising and bleeding, that can be life threatening if the blood doesn’t clot. Marilyn is under a care plan with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for the condition.

Marilyn also has autism, a condition that was first first spotted when she attended Walton Lane Nursery in Nelson. She has just left St John’s Southworth Primary School in Nelson and will start at The Nook in Colne in September. Andrew and Aimee, who also have a son Callum who is 14, have been joining Marilyn on her walks around Nelson’s parks and countryside with her little sister Scarlett who is nine.

And on Saturday, August 8, Marilyn will be the guest of honour at Nelson FC as the owners have asked her and Scarlett to be mascots for the game. Andrew added: “We can’t believe how far Marilyn’s story has gone, it makes us very proud as a family and Marilyn is so happy she is helping people. She has always been our ‘superhero’ but now she is officially one too.”

To make a donation to Marilyn’s superhero challenge please click HERE.