A BUNCH of determined trekkers braved wind, rain and pain to complete a seafront challenge for a brave young girl.

The walkers covered a challenging seafront route from Brighton Palace Pier to the pier in Bognor, and then back again, to raise funds to support five-year-old Lila Everest who has a rare form of brain tumour.

Only two in a million people are diagnosed with this condition and her parents Tim Everest and wife Karen Steel were told earlier this year that Lila will require lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

The youngster has already had one operation to reduce the pressure in her brain and to remove some of the tumour.

Walk organiser Luke Tyler, 40, met Lila, from Fiveways, Brighton, when he visited her school to deliver a reptile experience with his business, RepTylers.

He immediately decided he wanted to do something to raise money for her and Sussex charity Forward facing, which supports the families of children with long-term illnesses.

The 40-year-old said: “As soon as I heard about Lila’s condition, I wanted to do something to help and, at the same time, support the amazing work of Forward Facing.

“I walked between Brighton and Bognor Pier last year, but this time I plan to make it both ways.

“On the return, I will be joined by some very special people who will be overcoming their own personal challenges to join me. I am hoping the people of Brighton will cheer us along the way.”

Luke, who himself suffers from a long-term back condition, was accompanied on the walk by other walkers who completed the 57.2-mile trip in spite of their own long-term illnesses.

This included Julie Gore, a senior staff nurse at The Montefiore Hospital in Hove, and her two daughters Tash, 28, and Jess, 26. Tash has a brain tumour and Jess was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Julie said: “Tash was adamant she wanted to do this for the little girl Lila who is going through a similar experience.

“I thought if she can do it with a brain tumour, and Jess with multiple sclerosis, then I can’t let the team down.

“Together, we were determined to do as much of the 30 miles as we can.”

The team set off from the Palace Pier on Saturday night and walked through the night in harsh weather.

But they were able to return to the Brighton landmark by about 7pm yesterday and were met with a heroes welcome by families who have been supported by Forward Facing.

The group have been collecting funds on a JustGiving page, Luke’s 2 x Pier Challenge, and have so far raised more than £1,740.