TWO friends are stepping out on a canal towpath challenge to raise money for a hospice which cared for a very special little girl.

Businessman Simon Shields and teacher Daniel Milton, who both live in Hyndburn, will walk 50 miles along the Leeds and Liverpool canal on April 17 to raise money for Derian House Children’s Hospice, Chorley.

The hospice cared for brave Ellese Mulligan-Green, who died in December 2008 after battling a brain tumour for more than six months.

The charity is very close to the heart of Simon, manager at Altham firm TMS, as his wife, Rachel, is the cousin of Ellese’s mother Joanne, of Guide.

Simon, 39, of Griffin Close, Huncoat, said: “It was Derian House that looked after Ellese towards the end of her life.

“Joanne and her husband Phillip told us of the amazing care the staff there provide and it motivated me to do something for them.

“It gets very little government funding and manages to stay open only through charitable donations.”

Simon and Daniel, 35, assistant head teacher at St Bede’s RC High School, Blackburn, will set off from West Yorkshire and walk along the towpath, before making their way to the Griffin’s Head pub, Huncoat, for a fundraising party.

If anybody can donate a raffle, or auction, prize for the fund-raiser, then e-mail fiftymilewalk@gmail.com. Any donations to the walk can be made to www.justgiving.com/simonanddan