FAMILY and friends of a young girl struck down by meningitis are taking part in a 24-mile walk to raise up to £10,000 for charity.

More than 60 people are expected to take part in a walk of Yorkshire's Three Peaks on April 3 in aid of six-year-old Alice Steele.

Little Alice was left fighting for survival on a life-support machine last year just two hours after being taken to hospital with a high temperature.

It was later found to be meningococcal septicemia.

Now on the road to recovery, Alice, of Vicarage Road, Blackrod, is back at school but still receives physiotherapy for side effects of the virus.

Staff and parents from Blackrod County Primary School will join Alice's parents in the walk, which is expected to take more than 12 hours to complete.

Headteacher Ian Dryburgh will also take part.

All money raised from the walk will be donated to Bolton Meningitis Trust, which has helped the family through Alice's recovery.

Alice's mum, Rachel, who works at the Royal Bolton Hospital, will be joined by colleagues from its physiotherapy department, where Alice receives regular treatment.

Her dad, Michael, will be cycling the trail with six friends, but the outlay of pathways will mean his route will be almost twice as long as those choosing to walk.