A GIRL with diabetes from Lychpit is looking to walk about 500 miles for charity.

Sophie Gee will be attempting to walk one million steps in aid of Diabetes UK as part of its One Million Steps challenge.

Starting from July 1, the 12-year-old will be walking about 10,000 steps a day, every day, until the end of September, which will all add up to one million steps.

Just under two years ago in August 2017, Sophie was diagnosed with type one diabetes after symptoms started to show.

Sophie’s mother Helen said: “It was a complete shock to us, we had no idea until the diagnosis came through. We took her to the doctor’s on the day, and then instantly went to hospital where they diagnosed her there and then.”

Since then, she has had to look after her own insulin intake in response to the autoimmune disease, which prevents the body from making its own.

Following her mum and dad’s three peaks challenge and charity disco last year raising £7,500 for Diabetes UK, the Bishop Challoner School pupil decided to do her own this year.

Helen added: “She’s been out in the mornings and then again in the evening to make sure that she hits the amount of steps necessary, and is really working towards it.

“The extra work for her body can put strain on her, but she doing really well.

“We are really proud of her as it is not easy to live with and she wants to help. We are so proud that she wants to put a positive spin on this.

“Sophie is an amazing brave young lady who said to me that she wants to do this challenge to raise money to find a cure.

“She said she even if they cant find a cure for her she wants to help to make sure others do not have to live with type one diabetes in the future.”

She is currently nearing her target of £300, having raised a total of £260 so far, with the goal to raise as much as possible.

For more information or to donate, visit: step.diabetes.org.uk/pages/sophie-gee