Matthew Richardson knows only too well how devastating meningitis can be – it killed one of his best friends and left his sister fighting for her life.

Now the 28-year-old is preparing to run the Bath Half Marathon and raise money for Bristol-based charity Meningitis UK.

It's a cause close to his heart. His sister Laura was struck down by the disease when she was 17, leaving her in hospital battling for her life. Thankfully she pulled through without any serious after effects but the family's relief was to be short lived because their son-in-law to be, Rob Jones, was also struck down with the killer disease.

Mr Richardson, who works at Bath's Theatre Royal, said: "A year later, Rob, who was engaged to my sister Katie, fell ill. He was complaining of a headache and feeling dizzy.

"We called for an ambulance but they refused to take him so we got him to hospital as fast as we could in the car.

"It was shocking how quickly his condition deteriorated. He fell into a coma and died overnight, less then 24 hours after first feeling ill.

"He was very much part of my family and people would refer to him as my brother, so his death had a huge effect on us all."

Mr Jones was only 21 when he died in 1997.

Mr Richardson is now hoping to raise hundreds of pounds to help Meningitis UK search for a vaccine against Meningitis B which is the most common form of meningitis in the UK, accounting for almost 90 per cent of cases.

Mr Richardson said: "When Laura was ill I hadn't even heard of meningitis, let alone realised just how dangerous it is. The speed with which it killed Rob was absolutely devastating, which is why it's so important to find a vaccine."

He has been training three times a week at Space Gym in Bath, enlisting the help of its personal trainers.

"I'm looking forward to the Bath Half, which will be my first time running that distance," he said. "I've hurt my knee recently but I'm confident it'll be OK and I'll do my best to finish in a good time."

Mr Richardson will be part of the Meningitis Musketeers team, pounding the streets of the city on March 15.

Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after his son Spencer died from the disease, said: "Mathew's efforts are greatly appreciated. We're very thankful to him, not just for taking part in the half marathon but also for sharing how his family's been affected by the disease to raise invaluable awareness.

"Every penny raised will go towards our single focus – to find a vaccine to eradicate meningitis.

"Our ultimate goal is to spare people the heartache thousands of families have suffered by losing a loved one to meningitis."

To sponsor Mr Richardson contact Meningitis UK on 0117 302 6195 or meningitisuk.org.