BECKY Veal is lacing up her running shoes to support a charity close to her heart.

She completed two gruelling road races in 2011 – and now wants to tackle a marathon and half marathon this spring in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation.

The 32-year-old, from Hedge End, wanted to find a way to raise funds after going through the ordeal of seeing her daughter suffering from a form of the disease as a newborn baby.

Little Daisy was admitted to hospital at seven weeks old after becoming lifeless and sleepy and doctors revealed she had contracted streptococcus pneumonia septicaemia, a type of meningitis.

The tot stayed in hospital for a week in isolation waiting for the swelling of her brain to reduce before being allowed home to continue a further two week course of antibiotics.

Tests have since shown that Daisy, now two, has suffered mild loss of hearing in one ear, but fortunately she has so far developed normal language and speech.

Now a mum-of-two Becky, her sister Lizzie and brother-in-law, Neil Elshaw, are taking on a series of endurance events to raise money to support the charity intent on improving detection and prevention of the disease.

The trio want to raise £1,000 by taking in a half marathon and marathon in Brighton later this year, having competed in the Great South Run and Gosport Half Marathon late last year.

Becky, a police community support officer, said: “It was the worst feeling in my life when Daisy was ill. I’m taking part in this challenge as I feel I need to give something back after she was lucky enough to survive.

“Without donations to charities like MRF, which fund so much research into meningitis, Daisy may not have escaped so unscathed.”

Nikki May, of MRF, said: “My thanks go out to Becky and her family for taking part in such a gruelling challenge in aid of MRF. We rely on voluntary donations to fund our vital work.”

To donate by text message send GIFT00 £5 to 70070 to donate £5.