Little Woodville Girl Willow Is Born To Run As She Raises Over £1,000 For Charity

A keen runner has clocked up almost 70 miles and raised more than £1,000 for charity since the start of the Coronavirus lockdown...and she's just five years old.

Willow Johnson, who lives with mum Lisa, dad Ian and three-year-old brother Reef in Woodville, has been donning her running shoes almost daily to pound the pavements - as you can see in the video above.

And, because she is missing seeing her paternal and maternal grandmothers - both in their mid-70s - as well as other older family friends, she is making every mile count by raising money for Age UK Derby and Derbyshire.

The Coton-in-the-Elms CofE Primary School pupil has already doubled her £500 online Just Giving Page fundraising target, with the figure currently standing at £1,084.

Proud mum, and running partner, Lisa told Swadlincote Nub News: "Willow was introduced to Coronavirus before her school closed and was particularly concerned about her Granny and Nana.

"She wanted to know what she could do to help and, because she misses seeing her grandmothers, we decided to raise money for Age UK locally.

"Willow was born to run - she loves it - and intends to keep going until the end of lockdown or school reopens.

"She ran - unofficially - for the first time with Swadlincote junior parkrun at the age of two before joining at four.

"She's now a member of Rosliston Parkrun where she completes the 5km in about 33 minutes.

"She's very fast for a five-year-old and I just about manage to keep up with her.

"It won't be long before daddy has to take over."

Willow's lockdown runs have included seven miles to her school and the three-mile round trip to Lisa's mum's house in Church Gresley.

"Willow knocks on the door, stands back and has a few words with mum or sits on the wall outside.

"Then we run home again," adds Lisa, who is currently furloughed from Derby's Toyota Motor Manufacturing.

Willow is keeping the village up to date with her running routine, with a little help from her carpenter dad.

He has constructed a display board attached to a lamppost for Willow to post her running tally, which currently stands at an impressive 68.1 miles, and the fundraising total.