Brothers to walk from Essex to West Norfolk in memory of 'amazing little sister'

Two brothers are set to walk 95 miles from Essex to West Norfolk in memory of their “amazing little sister” who died following an epileptic fit last year.

Barry and Lee Edwards are taking on the challenge to raise funds for the Epilepsy Society next week, just over a year after their sister Hannah Edwards died.

Hannah, 33, was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 17, but she had been managing her condition with medication up until the point of the seizure.

The fit caused Hannah to fall, and she died of a brain haemorrhage at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital on October 16, just nine days before her 34th birthday.

Barry, 37, and Lee, 36, will start their walk on Friday, October 18 in Canvey Island, where the siblings grew up, and after 30 hours of walking, will reach West Norfolk on Saturday, October 19.

Their route will take them through Benfleet, Basildon, Chelmsford, Braintree, Mildenhall and to Stoke Ferry, where family members and friends of Hannah will join them for the last seven miles to Downham.

The group will walk past the AT Johnson and Reeds stores – where she had previously worked – which are supporting the fundraising with sponsor forms and collection tins, before concluding their hike at the town’s clock tower.

On their fundraising page, Lee said: “As you all know in October last year we lost our amazing little sister Hannah, so in loving memory to her, me and my brother Barry are doing a sponsored walk from Third Avenue on Canvey Island (where all three of us grew up) to Downham Market (where Hannah lived and worked) – a total of 95 miles – on October 18th for a great charity, Epilepsy Society.”

Ahead of their challenge, the brothers have already received a wealth of support, having raised in excess of £3,000 for the charity so far.

The siblings' parents Michele and Duncan Edwards, who live in Stoke Ferry, said it “meant the world” to them that their sons were taking on this challenge in Hannah’s memory.

Michele said: “It’s just been overwhelming. I’m so proud of them because they just felt that they wanted to do something that would push them.

“They said they didn’t want it to be a walk in the park, and it means the world to us.”

Hannah will always be remembered as someone who would “light up the room”, Michele added.

“Hannah was very outgoing, friendly, happy all the time and always smiling,” she said.

“She saw the best in everybody, and was always helping people. She was always happy, she lit up every room.”

Hannah also had a condition which meant she could not have children, but she “took it in her stride”.

“As she couldn’t have children, her nieces and nephews were her life and they have really found it hard without her,” Michele added.

“We just want to thank everyone for everything, and all the contributions, it’s so lovely.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/leeandbarrywalk.