Girl, 9, running 55 miles in dad's memory
FamilyA nine-year-old girl from Sutton Coldfield has pledged to run 55 miles in memory of her father.
Connie was five years old when her dad Paul took his own life, and is still coping with his death four years later.
She said losing her dad was the "hardest" thing anyone can go through in life, and wants to help other children in her position gain free access to grief counselling.
"Some children can't afford to get help for what they're going through and that's not right because it's really hard", she told the BBC.
Connie has completed 10.9 miles of her target so far - hoping to reach 55 miles - Paul's age when he died.
She will be completing the runs across April and is crowdfunding to raise over £3,000 to help three children gain access grief recovery coaching.
She said: "I'm doing this because losing [my dad] was one of the most hardest things you can go through in life.
"Unfortunately it's just how the life cycle works. You live and then you die. Some children will find this really really hard. I found this really hard."
Connie only found out her dad died through suicide earlier this year. After finding out, she returned to grief counselling with Love Life Again support group in Birmingham.
She said she realised how lucky she was to have access to them when she needs it.
Her mum, Marie, said she was proud of her daughter: "What's really special about her is to turn something negative like losing her dad, into something positive so she'll look back at this time with a positive memory."
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