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Daughter 'would be proud' of 1,000-mile fundraiser

Matthew Barlow
BBC News, Derby
BBC Eve Shipley receiving hospital treatment. She is wearing a pink shirt with a white heart and white lettering over the top. She has a pink scarf over the top of her head.BBC
Eve Shipley died of leukaemia in November last year

A mum has said her daughter "would be proud" of the efforts of loved ones taking part in a fundraiser in her memory.

Eve Shipley, who died from leukaemia in November aged 13, was described by her mother Victoria as "very kind" and "beautiful".

Ms Shipley's brother, Richard Bettany, is planning to walk 1,000 miles (1,609km) this year to support several charities in her memory.

Next Friday 13 June he will take on a sponsored walk between Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, where Eve went to school, to St Oswald's C of E School in Ashbourne, where Ms Shipley is a teaching assistant.

Brother and sister Richard Bettany and Victoria Shipley are pictured together looking at the camera. Victoria is wearing a black and white-striped shirt and has shoulder-length black hair. Richard, to the left of the image, has short grey hair and is wearing a grey shirt.
Richard Bettany, pictured with his sister Victoria Shipley, is walking 1,000 miles this year to raise money for charities

"She would love what we are doing now because that was Eve, she was always wanting to give something back," Ms Shipley, 44, said.

"It is hard when we are doing these walks because I know how much she would love to see what we are doing but at the same time I know she would be looking down and she would be really proud."

She said her daughter initially suffered headaches, random bouts of sickness and she had a squint in one of her eyes.

In April 2020 she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was given the all clear after having chemotherapy.

However, she was then diagnosed with leukaemia in July last year and died from the disease in November.

Paying tribute to her daughter, Ms Shipley said: "She was beautiful. She was very kind. She would do anything for anybody.

"She was everybody's friend. She was my best friend and I miss her terribly."

Eve Shipley is pictured making a "peace" sign with her hand. She is in a pink-painted room and is smiling at the camera.
Eve Shipley was described by her mother Victoria as her best friend

So far, Mr Bettany has walked 328 miles (527km) of the challenge he started in January, which has included hikes on the south coast and will include a route in the Lake District this weekend.

He has been joined by friends on all the walks he has done and Eve's friends and teachers are expected to be part of the walk next Friday.

He has raised £44,500 through online donations and has made donations to several charities including Brain Tumour Research and children's charities the Little Princess Trust, Joseph Cooper Trust and Pasic.

Mr Bettany, 39, said: "I wanted to do something for Eve because she fought so courageously.

"I don't think we will ever come to terms with what happened to her but it has helped seeing all these people on the walks and the good messages you get."

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