TWO East Lancashire WAGS are set to conquer the Great Wall of China for charity.

The wives of former Blackburn Rovers strikers Matt Derbyshire and Paul Gallagher will be taking on the challenge of a lifetime with other wives and girlfriends of footballers.

Hayley Gallagher and Melissa Derbyshire will be completing the trek in March for the Meningitis Trust.

Paul’s brother, Daniel, died after being struck down by meningitis at just nine-months-old.

Hayley, 28, said: “It was devastating for the family, Paul was seven at the time, it was so rare and there was very little information about the symptoms to watch out for.”

Hayley, Paul and Matt all grew up in East Lancashire and went to the same high school, Our Lady and St John RC High School in Shadsworth.

Matt is now on loan at Birmingham City and Paul signed a three-year deal with Leicester City in August 2009.

Hayley and Melissa will join wives and girlfriends of other Midlands teams including Becky Doyle, wife of Birmingham City goalkeeper Colin Doyle, who was inspired to take on the challenge after the couple’s baby son Liam almost died of the disease last year.