A GRIEVING aunt has been on an incredible journey and raised thousands of pounds in memory of her niece who died suddenly in her sleep.

Hollie Cradduck decided to complete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in honour of her 19-year-old niece, Rosie Carter.

Rosie, from St Mary Bourne, was found dead in bed at a manor house, where she was staying with her family in Tenby, on September 8, 2013.

The Nottingham University student was in Wales to watch Hollie take part in a charity triathlon, and died from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Since then, 24-year-old Hollie, also from St Mary Bourne, has been on a mission to raise awareness of SUDEP, and has so far generated more than £40,000 for epilepsy charities, with the help of her family.

She said: “Whilst lying awake I promised Rosie I would get to Kona in her memory. Rosie was always very philosophical about shooting for the moon and so it was a perfect testament to her. It would be Rosie’s legacy.”

She added: “Rosie and I were more like sisters and I was only three when she was born and this formed a formidable bond.”

Hollie’s emotional journey is set to be published in a book due to be released next year.

She competed in the world championships on October 10, where she completed a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.6 mile marathon.

Hollie, who worked at Sky News, moved to Lanzarote after qualifying for the competition to train.

She said: “After losing Rosie I struggled badly with my grief, however I used Ironman as my focus and having Kona as my goal, even if I thought it impossible for a long while, helped my mental health.

"It has proved that exercise can help depression and this is something I researched into within my book.”

She hopes her efforts will also raise awareness of SUDEP Action, adding: “SUDEP is when a person with epilepsy, whether that be diagnosed or not, dies suddenly and prematurely and no other cause of death is found.

"Rosie was never diagnosed with epilepsy but had suffered with a handful of nocturnal seizures in her teens which were put to night tremors.”

Karen Osland, the deputy chief executive of SUDEP Action said: “Hollie Cradduck has done such amazing work in memory of her niece Rosie.”