Caring youngster's mission to cheer up Wigan midwives after death of colleague

Four-year-old Elise Roberts was upset to discover her godfather Ali Clarke’s mother Linda Clarke, who worked as a midwife at Wigan Infirmary, had died.

So she decided to do something in her memory and to show support for Linda’s colleagues.

Elise’s mother Robyn Roberts, from Orrell, said: “Elise was talking to me and said she is fed up of this nasty bug and wanted to do something to help.

“We talked about how she could help and she enjoys running, so she is running 10k over the space of a week.”

Elise and Robyn have been running up to a mile each day and are well on their way to reaching their target.

But one goal Elise has already met is raising £100 for the midwives.

Robyn said: “She wanted to raise £100 for the midwives at Wigan Infirmary to make them smile again after losing Linda, but she is at £350 now. She is doing really well.”

Elise, who will join St James’ Primary School in September, hopes to reach 10km soon.

She will then be able to give the money she has raised to staff at the hospital to spend however they like.

Robyn said: “I’m extremely proud of her. I am over the moon. It’s such an incredible thing to do and at such a young age. She is such a caring little soul.”

Linda, 66, had worked in Wigan’s maternity services for 30 years and was the delivery suite co-ordinator at the hospital.

She died with Covid-19 in April and the funeral procession passed the infirmary as she made her final journey.

Silas Nicholls, chief executive at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, said she had brought “many new lives into our borough” and would be “sadly missed by her colleagues”.

Donations to Elise’s appeal can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/robyn-roberts-1.

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