A ‘brave’ eight-year-old girl with epilepsy is walking 50 miles to raise awareness of the condition.

Lizzie Riley from Ledbury is putting in the miles throughout February and has already raised £800 for an epilepsy charity.

Lizzie, who goes to Bromesberrow St Mary’s Primary School, suffered a stroke just after she was born, leaving her with epilepsy.

Malvern Gazette: Lizzie on one of her walksLizzie on one of her walks (Image: NQ)

Her parents believed she’d grown out of it after 12 months - until a “terrifying” moment a year ago when she started having seizures again.

“We had friends over and at first we thought she was being shy,” said mum Lindsey. “But we soon realised something wasn’t right and called 999 straight away.

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“Her dad was recovering from a stroke and wondered if that’s what was happening to her - it was very scary.”

Lizzie was taken to hospital and underwent two hours of treatment as doctors tried to bring her out of the seizure.

'We are very, very proud of her'

Appointments with various specialists followed and Lizzie was eventually diagnosed with focal epilepsy.

“She doesn’t shake when she has a seizure,” said Lindsey.

“Her head turns to one side and is completely rigid - you can’t move it, her eyes roll and she makes a sort-of clicking sound that is really hard to describe.

“She can be sick as well so you have to be on the ball.”

Malvern Gazette: Lizzie wants to raise awareness of her conditionLizzie wants to raise awareness of her condition (Image: NQ)

Lizzie suffered six seizures in a matter of months but has now been six months seizure-free, something Lindsey puts down to the medication she is now taking.

Lizzie is determined to make more people aware of her condition - so is walking 50 miles throughout February in aid of Epilepsy Action.

“We’re aiming for two miles a day but some days she gets very tired so we do a few more at the weekend,” said Lindsey.

“It was her idea and we are very, very proud of her. She has learning difficulties as well so it’s not easy for her but she is so brave.”

You can donate to Epilepsy Action at https://www.facebook.com/epilepsyaction/fundraisers