A family from Blackmore, near Brentwood, has raised more than �20,000 for charity by completing a 1,000-mile walk around the coast of Ireland.

The Horti Family spent eight weeks on their mission for Little Havens Children’s Hospice in Thundersley, and LauraLynn House in Dublin.

Jane Horti, 47, a doctor said: “As a parent, being faced with the loss of your child must be one of the worst possible scenarios to cope with in life.

“Helping our local children’s hospice Little Havens to continue caring for, and supporting life-limited children and their families, made our challenge worth every step. We chose Ireland because my dad was born in Tipperary and Paul’s grandmother came from Donegal.

“We started and finished the walk at LauraLynn House in Dublin, which incredibly will be the first children’s hospice in Ireland when it opens later this month.”

Jane’s son, Sam, 20, a medical student at Imperial College, London, said he wanted a challenge after watching comedian Eddie Izzard’s multiple marathons on TV. But Jane and dad Paul, 47, said a walk was more realistic.

Peter Hall, Little Havens Community Fundraiser, said: “We are very grateful to the Horti family for taking up this incredible challenge and congratulate them on completing the walk and raising over �10,000 for Little Havens Children’s Hospice.

“This amount will pay for a week’s respite break for two children and their families.

“It will cost �2.4million to keep our hospice and all its services running this year.”