A THURROCK family is about to walk from the borough to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London as a tribute to its work - and to raise funds.

Others will complete the distance of the journey on static cycles.

Family and friends of little Levi Smith from Tilbury will be making the effort to say thanks to staff at Great Ormond Street (GOSH) for the support they have given the youngster who was born with severe Hydrocephalus (water on the brain).

Levi's aunt, Ellie-Rose Smith, says: "If it wasn't for the incredible neuroscience department at Great Ormond Street, he likely wouldn't be here today.

"The care they provide is second to none, to both the child and their parents.

"So to show just how grateful we are to everyone at GOSH from the surgeons and consultants, to the volunteers and cleaners, a group will be walking a whopping 25.6 miles and others will be doing the distance by cycle."

It will all take place on Saturday, 27 June and anyone wishing to support the effort can do so via a Just Giving page.

"Please give as generously as you are able to, and support this incredible hospital and the work it does," added Ellie Rose.

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Levi's dad Martin Smith and brothers Terry and Tommy will be walking from the family home in Adelaide Road, Tilbury, to Great Ormond Street and have already collected more than £800 to go with the £175 currently on the Just Giving page - so that have already beaten their initial £1,000 target but are determined to go on and raise as much as possible.

Ellie-Rose, her partner Joe and friends Cassy and Dec Watson will each be cycling the corresponding distance, aiming to do more than 100 miles between them.