Helped by a small army of youngsters, a Carlisle woman raised nearly £3,000 for north Cumbria's hospice, spurred on in part by the memory of her close friend.

Leona Hull, along with her friend and colleague Nicola Jackson organised a "sponsored toddle" - a socially distanced, family friendly jaunt involving 52 children around Bitts Park, all in aid of raising money for Eden Valley Hospice.

One of the reasons Eden Valley Hospice, based on Durdar Road in Carlisle, is so close to Leona's heart is the "amazing" care the team gave her close friend PC Debbie Hall, the well-known and well-loved Cumbria Police officer and tireless fundraiser for cancer charities.

Debbie died earlier this year after a five year battle with cancer.

The grand total raised at the July 11 event by Leona, Nicola and Leona's family, who were all keen to help propel the fundraising efforts forward, was an impressive £2,800.

After making the donation to the hospice, Suzanne Garbarino-Danson, clinical lead for Jigsaw, the children's hospice based at the site, said it meant a lot to everyone at the hospice that family and friends of those who spent time there continued to show support.

"I feel it's a credit to the staff that family and friends of people no longer at the hospice are still so keen to support us.

"The hospice couldn't survive without local donations, and the local commitment of friends and relatives of people who have used our services here," she said.

Leona, who spent seven days at the hospice by Debbie's side, was full of praise for the hospice team.

"They were amazing. Nothing was a problem, even through the night," she said.

"They were always coming and checking up on us, asking if we needed anything.

"Even when they were rushed off their feet caring for everyone else, they still found time to come and check up on you, ask if you needed a cup of tea or anything like that."

Leona said she was particularly keen to raise funds for the hospice at present, given the hit it has, like all charities, taken as a result of Covid-19.

"I just thought to myself 'I know all the shops have been closed, I need to do something to support them right now'."

"After all, this place relies on donations."