A DAD is keeping the memory alive of his young daughter who was 'a little character' and 'always smiling'.

Shaun Jones' daughter Katie died last year at the age of 10.

Katie was born with a severe disability which meant she could not walk or talk.

“She was always smiling,” said Mr Jones.

“She gave all the family so much joy and always knew she was loved.”

During her final few years, Katie was on full-time oxygen and was in and out of hospital.

She passed away peacefully in the children’s ward at Furness General Hospital, with her family by her side, on March 18 2019.

“You go to hospital and think how much more can we put her through?” said Mr Jones.

“She just faded away. It was so peaceful and calm. She has left a void but she’ll always be here too.”

Mr Jones, who has two other children Abbie and Jack, has now embarked on a gruelling challenge in Katie's memory.

He has been running hundreds of miles since the coronavirus lockdown began to raise funds for Jigsaw children's hospice which cared for his daughter before she died.

He has now run a minimum of six miles each day, for more than 50 days.

Mr Jones described Jigsaw, the Cumbrian charity which helped he and Katie's mum Annlouise through their loss, as ‘so warm and welcoming’.

“Jigsaw has a friendly atmosphere, it was brilliant," he said.

“They make you feel as if you were family.

“We just had a nice homely connection with it. We never had any worries with leaving Katie there, it was brilliant.

“When we did lose Katie, I went around to Jigsaw for a cuppa.

“I said that I would do an event one day, to raise some money for what they have done for us.

“It is just giving something back and to show we appreciate things.

“That’s my drive and I know the fundraising will be appreciated.

“I would be lost without running and the benefits.”

The kindness and generosity of family and friends has already seen Mr Jones smash his initial fundraising target of £100.

To date Mr Jones has raised over £700 in aid of the children’s hospice.

To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shaun-jones15.