A 6-year-old girl and her friends have raised thousands for a local hospital charity after running the Ealing Mini-Marathon in memory of her sister.

Ariana, from Notting Hill and Ealing High School, completed the one-mile race last Saturday (25 September) with 27 of her friends, to celebrate the life of her little sister, Amara.

Amara tragically passed away in 2019 when she was 14 months old.

Together, the group managed to raise over £13,000 for West Middlesex University Hospital (WMUH) via CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

All the money raised from 'Team Amara' will go towards maternity bereavement services at West Middlesex, who provided a 'tremendous' source of support to the family.

Ariana and Amara's mother Sonal, a consultant surgeon at WMUH, said: "I am very proud of Ariana and all of 'Team Amara' for running in Amara's memory and raising invaluable funds for West Mid.

"I am so thankful for the support that my family and I received from the hospital's maternity bereavement services, and we are so pleased to be able to give something back to help other bereaved parents who have sadly lost a baby in pregnancy or as a young child."

Sally Kelly, specialist bereavement midwife at West Middlesex University Hospital, said: "We are so very grateful to Sonal for her support. 

"We were honoured to support Sonal and her family through such tragic circumstances, and I would like to say a special thank you to Ariana and her friends for participating in the Ealing Mini-Marathon for us.

"They have raised a fantastic amount of money for our West Mid maternity bereavement services, which will make a real impact, helping patients and families during such sad and difficult times."

Ariana's JustGiving page is still running and receiving donation to CW+.

West Middlesex University Hospital has recently celebrated its 100th year.