A THOUGHTFUL mum trained in Epping Forest for a charity walk in memory of her daughter who died aged just 18 days old.

Lauren Hatful, from Laindon has been training in the forest ahead of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, to help to raise money for the neo-natal intensive care unit at Basildon Hospital.

It comes after Lauren and husband John Hatful had twin girls Poppy and Daisy prematurely in the Basildon maternity unit in September last year. Poppy died at just 18 days old.

Lauren, together with her cousin and friends, took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday to raise funds for the unit. The challenge will see Lauren and her friends cover the three peaks, a distance of 25 miles, in just 10 hours.

Lauren said: “I’ve never done anything like it before, but we’ve been training so hard with lengthy walks in Hornchurch, Upminster, Epping Forest and most recently on a ‘practice run’ ahead of the big day by completing the 25-mile Surrey three peaks. So we know we can do this.”

The couple, from Laindon, were so grateful to the NICU staff for all that they did for their family and have already previously raised almost £3,500 for the unit.

Lauren and John have set up an Instagram account called Poppy’s People (poppyspeople_). Donations can be made via: Ellis OGrady is fundraising for Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity (justgiving.com). See poppyspeople in Instagram.