THE birth of a much-loved daughter brought joy and later heartbreak to James Hannabuss and his wife Rachael.

Imani Grace died in James’s arms in a special care baby unit at a Sheffield hospital only two days after her birth.

She had a rare disease, HLH, which affects one child out of one million.

“We had two days of pleasure with Imani and we are grateful for that,” said the former army sergeant.

Now he is organising a 500-mile sponsored walk on the Pennine Way to raise £10,000 for the unit where she died, in the Jessops Wing of the Hallamshire Hospital .

“I have set out three weeks to do the Pennine Way, starting on July 22, but when I get to the end, I am turning round and walking back again, a total of 506 miles.”

The couple are slowly recovering from their daughter's death last November and James now feels he can do something to help the unit.

“The level of the care at the unit was amazing and I feel I can now give them something back, and also get a sense of achievement out of the walk.”

The disease, which can be inherited, is so rare that a member of the staff at the hospital, with more than 30 years’ service, had not come across it before. Doctors say if the couple have another child there is a one in four chance of he or she developing it.

James, 40, of Summer Lane, Royston, who served for more than 20 years in the army, saw service in the Middle East and Bosnia with the Royal Armoured Corps. He is now a first aid trainer.