A COUPLE are taking on a 100km walk in 24 hours in memory of their son who died aged three.

Rhiannon Fisher and Ric Preece from Shoreham are taking on the South Coast Challenge in aid of Chestnut Tree House hospice and in memory of their son, Winston.

Starting from Eastbourne on August 26, the pair will walk along the coastal path and South Downs Way to reach Arundel.

Winston died unexpectedly in January, 2016, just weeks before his fourth birthday.

Mother Rhiannon said: “We had had a wonderful family day.

“He’d had his hair cut, we’d been to the toy museum in Brighton, eaten chips at a café and he’d enjoyed scooting over Shoreham Bridge.

“It was a really active, normal day and, although Winston was a bit snuffly, we had no reason to believe we wouldn’t have many more days just like that one.”

Sadly, Winston died during the night.

Rhiannon said: “We later learned that he had had bronchopneumonia caused by an infection in the lungs but we didn’t know that at the time.

“We were just faced with the utter shock and devastation of losing our wonderful boy.”

The couple were quickly put in touch with Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice for Sussex, which offers bereavement support to any family in the county that loses a child, even if they were not known to the charity previously.

Rhiannon said: “Chestnut Tree House was totally amazing.

“We couldn’t comprehend what was going on – we had no idea how to deal with it.

“We’d had no preparation and we, and the rest of our family, were in total shock.

“It was such a relief to be taken into the sanctuary of Chestnut Tree and be surrounded with people who did know what to do.

“Chestnut Tree’s chaplain and one of the community nurses guided us, ever so gently, through those first few days and weeks.

“Whilst we aren’t religious at all it was Steve, Chestnut Tree’s chaplain, who helped us plan a funeral that was fitting for Winston – something that we never imagined we would have to do.

“Winston loved trains and all kinds of transport – we’d lived in London for most of his life so we were always on and off trains and buses – and so Steve suggested a natural burial site by a train line near us, and it was just perfect.

“Chestnut Tree also provided a place for Winston to be at rest until his funeral.

“It meant we were able to stay at the House with Winston.”

The couple hope to raise £2,000.