Mariya will hit Kiltwalk for the NINTH time in memory of her brother

Local fundraising hero Mariya Javed is set to take on her ninth Kiltwalk in a row in honour of her older brother-and this time is to be joined by staff at her school.

- CALAM PENGILLY

Mariya has been a regular in the pages of the Express, doing her bit to support research into the rare brain condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which claimed her brother Ahmar's life when he was just 13.

Alongside her parents, the inspirational teenager set up the charity Another Star in the Sky, for which she has so far raised £32,000.

The Kiltwalk is a poignant event for the Javed family, falling close to the anniversary of Ahmar's passing on April 30, 2017, and it's not always easy for Mariya, who said she still finds it "very difficult to share memories of my brother with others".

But she said she's still "very grateful to have the support of my friends and teachers around me as they cheer me up if I get upset, listen to my problems and know how to make me feel better".