A PRESTON woman is to embark on a charity trek across the country in memory of her young godson.

Irene James, of Langholme Road, Penwortham, will be joining other local people as she sets off on a nine-day walk from Blackpool to Bridlington to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Charity champ Irene (pictured) will be taking each gruelling step walk in memory of her godson, Christopher Bond, who died at the age of 12 after contracting meningococcal septicaemia.

She will be setting off on Saturday, September 23, and passing through Preston, Blackburn, Wetherby, York and Scarborough. Irene said: "I'm really looking forward to taking part in the first day of the walk. I am a keen long distance walker and have been doing lots of training to prepare myself. But we really want more people to join us, on any of the nine days."

The charity fund-raisers aim to raise £40,000 for the trust and will help fund vital research into the killer disease.

If anybody would like to take part in the walk, at any stage of the route for as long as they choose, call Sam at the Meningitis Research Foundation on (01454) 281811.