Dash across Cornwall in memory of baby Ella

A TRURO father and his friends are setting off in the early hours tomorrow to embark on a gruelling 200km walk and cycling challenge to raise funds for the West Briton-backed Ella's Memory appeal.

Martyn and Emmillie Selley, of Carnon Downs, whose daughter Ella was stillborn in December, launched the charity to raise funds to overhaul the facilities at the Royal Cornwall Hospital's Daisy Suite – a private room for use by parents during the loss of an unborn infant.

Gill Smith, manager of the Gooseberry Bush Day Nursery, Camborne, presents a cheque for £200 to a former employee and co-founder of Ella's Memory, Emmillie Selley, standing next to her son Max and Keiran and Caitlyn, who are both 4.

Mr Selley and seven friends will set off from The Lizard at 5am – the beginning of a mad dash across Cornwall visiting various maternity units along the way, including Helston via Mullion, then Treliske via Wendron, St Austell via Tresillian and Probus and on to Fowey, where the team will rest in the fire station for a few hours before their final leg on bike through the coastal towns of Newquay, Perranporth, St Agnes, Porthtowan, Portreath and on to Redruth, Lanner and back through Carnon Downs to their final stop on Truro's Lemon Quay at about 1pm on Saturday.

The team hopes to complete the challenge in under 30 hours – weather permitting – and aims to raise £6,000 for the charity.

Anyone wishing to donate can go to the computer web link: www.justgiving.com/ellas-memory200kmchallenge, or visit www.ellasmemory.org.uk