RUNNERS inspired by a Dorchester boy's brave battle against meningitis have been clocking up the miles.

A team of runners called Miles for Meningitis headed to the Bournemouth Marathon Festival in the first of a series of fundraisers for Meningitis Now.

Running under the banner #teamgeorge, the eight runners raised more than £900 in the youngster's name.

Eight-year-old George contracted pneumococcal meningitis as a baby and has received support from the Meningitis Now charity.

The team heading over to Bournemouth for the weekend's running events included his eight-year-old sister Kaya, who took on the 2km run on the Saturday, and dad Martin, who completed the full marathon the following day.

George's aunt and uncle Neil and Kelly Wood also took on the half marathon, alongside Joanne Haze, Jo Hallett, Katy Nother and Beverley Clewett.

The youngster's mum Naomi Patterson said she was grateful to all those who were running for the charity in George's name and all those who had supported them through spn She said: "They all finished and it was absolutely fantastic, the whole event was well organised.

"They have all done really well and together they have raised £900 and there is a lot more to come."

Naomi started off the running group to build on the already impressive fundraising efforts for Meningitis Now in George's name, which have seen the family and supporters raise more than £12,000.

She said that the members of the group taking on the half marathon were taking on the distance for the first time.

Naomi added that a team from the Miles for Meningitis group would be running the next Weymouth Half Marathon before five runners take on the London Marathon and a team of ten head up to the Great North Run next year.

Naomi, who is going to be part of the team doing the Weymouth Half Marathon and Great North Run, said she hoped that through all these events they would help take the fundraising total over the £20,000 mark.

She said: "The idea is to leave a legacy behind for George and raise as much money as we possibly can."

Naomi said that funds raised would help to improve the vaccine for pneumococcal meningitis as well as supporting those like George who have the condition.

She is keen for as many people as possible to get involved with the running group and anyone interested can contact her by emailing naomihillier08@gmail.com