'We are bursting with pride': Little Leeds United fan raises money for NHS by running 3k every day

Little Libby New has been running with her mum, Natalie, 32, since Friday, April 17 to raise money for frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Year One pupil has already raised a whopping £700 after being inspired by Yorkshire's Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday walk and is hoping to reach £1,000 before the week is through.

Her mum Natalie said: "Libby had heard bits about coronavirus. They talked about it in school with the hand-washing and the school had to close early because people started getting poorly.

"You can't get away from coronavirus at the moment so Libby was asking a bit about what it is.

"We didn't want to scare her so we just told her people are getting quite poorly so we all have to stay at home and keep washing our hands.

"Her nanny, granny and three aunties all work in the NHS so she's got an idea of what the NHS is and that they look after people.

"She'd seen people like Captain Tom fundraising for them and she decided that she wanted to raise money too."

As Libby had competed in fun colour runs with her mum before, Natalie decided that running would be a good way to raise money.

To make it a bit harder, the pair decided to do it every day for a week.

Libby and her mum put their running clothes on every day and run through their village of Oswestry, in Shropshire.

They run to Libby's school, which is exactly 1.5 kilometres away and then back home again.

Their last run will be on Friday, April 24.

Natalie said the response from the family's local community has been phenomenal - but she's been "amazed" at the strong support from Leeds United fans all across the country.

She said: "Our little village has just been amazing.

"Last night most of the village were stood in their doorways waving and clapping to her and some people had banners with her name.

"Libby's school has also put banners out because they knew she'd struggled a few nights ago so they wanted to leave something out for her. It made me cry.

Natalie, who is also mum to Jack, 2, added: "My dad, Libby's granddad, was the absolute biggest Leeds United fan ever.

"He lived and breathed Leeds United and our family are huge Leeds fans now too.

"I shared Libby's fundraising in the Leeds United supporter's group and I can't believe how amazing the fans have been.

"We had a £30 anonymous donor from someone who signed it "from the Leeds family".

"Another fan gave us £20 and others have donated £10 and £5. Lots of people are signing it 'Marching on Together' which is great because then the kids start singing it loudly.

"I just can't believe people that don't know us are just being so wonderful."

Natalie and her husband Tom, 32, originally set a target of £50 and said that the amount Libby has raised "is beyond anything they could have wanted."

Natalie said: "Libby is getting quite overwhelmed by it now.

"We weren't expecting this so for a five-year-old for it to have gone as big as it has, I don't think she quite understands what an amazing thing she's done.

"We are just so, so proud of her we can't even put it into words.

"It means the absolute world to raise money for the NHS and give something back to them. It's a small gesture for what they're doing.

"We know how hard they are working at the minute.

"We've got friends and family that are working so hard in the NHS. I've got friends whose kids are having to stay at their grandparents house because they don't want to bring anything home.

"We're bursting with pride already. To raise £1000 and know she'd made that much difference would just be epic.

"It's just beyond anything we could have ever wanted."

To donate to Libby's fundraising campaign for the NHS visit her Just Giving page here.