A DAD is going the extra mile to fundraise in a 100km walk in memory of his eight-year-old daughter who died from a rare brain tumour.

Justin Kline, 33, a manager of the Tesco Metro store in Weymouth, said his daughter Sophie passed away in April after being diagnosed with the tumour last July.

Justin described Sophie as a ‘typical girly girl’ who loved the colour pink, make-up, sewing, singing and playing piano.

He said Sophie’s tumour was a diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) – a highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumour.

These tumours are found in an area of the brainstem called the pons, which controls many of the body’s most vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.

Approximately 300 children are diagnosed with these gliomas each year, usually between the ages of five and nine years old.

Justin’s two-day walk will be raising money for the Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, a charity which provides respite care and support to children with life-limiting illnesses.

He said: “With Sophie’s tumour, we were told there was no cure.

“Sophie didn’t spend a single night in hospital throughout her illness thanks to the hospice; nurses came out and cared for her at home.

“The service we received was above and beyond so I wanted to fundraise to give something back to the hospice.”

Justin’s two day walk will take place on September 18 and 19, starting from his home in Ringwood before reaching the Julia’s House Children’s Hospice in Corfe Mullen.

He will also walk past 33 Tesco stores on his challenge.

Justin added: “In the future we want to set up our own charity, called the Sophie Kline Trust, to fund research into the specific type of tumour Sophie had.

“For this charity we hope to fundraise for the rest of our lives for it – but for right here and now we want to raise as much money as we can for Julia’s House.

“Any help in terms of donations or support would be much appreciated.”

To donate towards Justin’s challenge visit justgiving.com/justins100kmwalk or text JHOU53 with a pound sign and the amount you wish to donate to 70070.