By Leicester Mercury | Posted 06 May, 2015
A helium balloon that flew all the way to Denmark was released by a 14-year-old girl in memory of her great-grandfather it has been discovered.
Millie Dear, of Cosby, took part in a LOROS balloon release on April 25 at the start of the charity's annual Twilight Walk at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.
Amazingly, Birger Jensen, who lives in Koge, Denmark – 575 miles away - found the balloon in his garden the next day.
Birger took a picture of the balloon and then posted it on Facebook.
The post was shared by more than 20,000 people and word soon reached Leicester.
LOROS launched an appeal to track down who released the balloon.
Millie said: "I couldn't believe it. I didn't really know where it would end up but I never thought it would go that far.
"I also can't believe someone actually found it and got in touch.
"And it went viral."
Millie's balloon was in memory of her great-grandfather Harold Pratt, who died from cancer about 10 years ago.
It carried the message: "Poppa Pratt. Forever in our hearts, I'll never forget you and your courage. Love you."
LOROS Twilight Walk event co-ordinator, Laura Fitzsawyer said: "Here at LOROS, we're all so pleased that Millie came forward after our appeal.
"It's great to know we were able to locate the owner of the balloon after it travelled all of the way to Denmark and it sounds like Millie was just as excited as we were to hear the news.
"Our balloon release allows people to send that special message to somebody, like Millie has done here, to Poppa Pratt.
"LOROS clearly has a special place in Millie's heart, as well as her grandmothers and we feel privileged to be part of their story."
