A YORK father whose son tragically died of meningitis five days before Christmas is attempting the Coast-to-Coast walk to help fight the disease.

William Gillings, of Thornwood Covert, Acomb, set off at the weekend on the two-week, 190-mile trek from St Bees, near Whitehaven, to Robin Hood's Bay.

His son David died of meningitis 11 years ago only one week after his fourth birthday and five days before Christmas.

William, 48, who lives with wife Brenda and 17-year-old daughter Caroline, said: "David died within 14 hours of getting the disease and had very similar symptoms to flu. Meningitis is much more common today than it ever was then. I keep reading about it in the papers."

A friend told William about the Coast-to-Coast walk and he thought it would provide an ideal opportunity to raise money for the National Meningitis Trust.

He said: "I'm not doing it for sympathy, I just really want to help other people. I thought if I do the walk somebody's got to benefit from it. When I see people who have been through the same thing it really gets to me. As time goes on you learn to cope with it."

William has spent the last year training with the Grassroots walking club based at Clifton, trekking all over Yorkshire.

He said: "When you tell people what you're doing they think it's a really good idea. I'm looking forward to it."

If you would like to sponsor William telephone Jackie Durrance on (01904) 788623.