GAZETTE & HERALD: MUM-of-two Cara Mead will muster all her pedal power before Saturday when she embarks on a seven-day cycle challenge around Wiltshire.

Mrs Mead, 32, of The Ridings, Kington St Michael, has planned the mammoth 250-mile bike ride in honour of her brave son Ollie and other youngsters who have fought meningitis.

She hopes to raise a whopping £30,000 to be split evenly between the Gazette's Lydia Cross Appeal and the Meningitis Research Foundation and make parents more aware of the dangers of the potentially deadly illness.

Starting in Chippenham she will cycle to Trowbridge, Wilton, Stonehenge, Pewsey, Devizes, Swindon, Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett, before finishing at Chippenham Rugby Club on Sunday June 5.

A pod will be attached to the back of the bike, which Mrs Mead will use to ferry children about during the challenge.

"I'm quite nervous but I know that I'm physically ready for it so I just want to get on with it now," she said.

On Saturday Mrs Mead and Lydia's mum, Jodie will set off together from The Bridge in Chippenham, with their children in each of their pods.

They will be at the starting line from 10am, where they will promote the challenge and raise awareness about meningitis.

Mrs Mead did not recognise the signs when her three year-old son, Oliver, contracted meningitis two years ago and she wants other parents to be alert to the symptons.

Ollie was left deaf in his left ear with limited hearing in his right ear. His one-year old sister, Emily survived a meningitis scare when she was born.

Mrs Mead was sent home from Chippenham Hospital twice in one weekend after doctors diagnosed Ollie's symptoms as an ordinary virus.

But just days later he was unconscious and fighting for his life with pneumococcal meningitis.

"He's quite excited about being in the pod and knows we're going to be going on an adventure."

She added: "The bike ride is more of a personal thing because I want to give something back to show how grateful I am that I've still got Ollie and he's relatively unscathed compared to others."

The bike ride will officially end with a giant family fun day at Chippenham Rugby Club and Mrs Mead is appealing for volunteers to assist with car park marshalling. If you can help contact her on (01249) 758118.