A YOUNGSTER has been giving passers-by high fives on her way to raising money for a good cause.

Two-year-old Effie Souness has been joining her gran Kelly in completing 10,000 steps for eight days to raise money for Stronger Together for Autism and Neurodivergence (STAND).

Together, they have raised more than £350 for the group, with donations still coming in.

Kelly told the Courier: “Effie has absolutely loved it. She has her wee t-shirt on and when she is passing everybody she has had her hand out the buggy giving a high five.

“She does not talk and is non-verbal, so she communicates with her hands.”

Effie attends both STAND, at the Port Seton Centre, and The Green Room, a specialist provision in Tranent.

'Happy as Larry'

Her grandmother, who lives in Musselburgh, had spotted a challenge to complete the step target on social media.

She said: “I walk a lot with Effie and I walk more than 10,000 steps in a day.

“I thought it would be easy-peasy and registered for it.

“I just put down my goal as £150.

“Effie goes to STAND East Lothian down in Port Seton and goes to The Green Room in Tranent. We thought we would donate it there for some extra toys that Effie can give them.

“We just started doing it every day and the next minute saw we had raised £355.

“She has been happy as Larry going in her wee ‘walk with autism’ t-shirt; she has been brilliant.”

Visit fundraise.autisminitiatives.org/fundraisers/kellysouness/walk-for-autism to donate.