THE Meningitis Trust’s own community fundraiser is about to embark on the second of his three challenges this year, a 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge.

David Wood will be climbing the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours, in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the Meningitis Trust.

Mr Wood first got involved with fundraising on the charity committee at Salisbury’s Bishop Wordsworth’s School, and has done lots of fundraising since, most recently running four marathons in 2006, and being part of a team that trekked the Great Wall of China last August.

This year he is aiming to complete three challenges, totalling 106.8 miles. He completed the first, a 55 mile walk around Manchester, in March and after the Three Peaks Challenge will still have the Chicago Marathon to look forward to later in the year.

He said: “Knowing how my fundraising efforts will make a difference - having seen first hand the trust’s work - really spurs me on. The 55-mile walk was my toughest challenge so far.

“At mile 19 I got painful blisters, and had to endure those for the remaining 36 miles. I had to carry on though; I wasn’t going to let all those that had sponsored me down. I made it over the finish line in under 23-and-a-half hours of solid walking - if I can do that, then I can conquer the Three Peaks and the Chicago Marathon!

“I am paying for all of the costs for the Three Peaks out of my own pocket, so every single penny will go direct to the Meningitis Trust and it’s good work.”

David is hoping that this year’s fundraising efforts will bring the total he has raised for the trust to £10,000 in the past three and a half years.

To sponsor him visit www.justgiving.com/thecontinuingadventuresofdavidwood.

Meningitis is an infectious disease that can kill within hours or leave sufferers with severe after-effects including brain damage, deafness, and where septicaemia (blood poisoning) has occurred, even loss of limbs. The Meningitis Trust provides practical and emotional support for life, helping to rebuild lives that have been shattered by meningitis.

For more information, please contact David on 01453 769022 or email davidw@meningitis-trust.org.