A MAN whose son was diagnosed with meningitis at just eight-months-old is set to take on a mammoth bike ride from London to Monte Carlo, Monaco, to raise money for his future needs.

Gareth Stephenson, 38, from Barry, was told by doctors in March 2013 that his baby son, Noah, had contracted meningitis.

"He just became very lethargic all of a sudden," said Mr Stephenson.

"He was quite sick and seemed a bit hot, so we were advised to take him straight to the University Hospital of Wales.

"It was clear he was really poorly. That evening the doctors came to us and said 'it's not looking good, it's meningitis'.

"You prepare yourself for the worst - they said that he probably wasn't going to make it."

But make it Noah did, and since then he has gone from strength to strength in his recovery. Inevitably however, he was left with a number of restrictions resulting from the effects of his condition.

The lower part of Noah's left leg had to be amputated by surgeons shortly after his diagnosis, to improve his chances of survival. He also lost the toes on his right foot and most of his fingertips to the disease.

But Noah's recovery has been to such an extent that he recently took part in his school sports day, being cheered all the way to the finish line by spectators and fellow competitors.

And Mr Stephenson hopes that his fundraising efforts will help Noah to continue to overcome obstacles in the future, in whatever he chooses to do.

"It's so he can have a pot for when he's a bit older to get any specialist prosthetics he may need for sport or whatever he's interested in," said Mr Stephenson.

"The NHS - whilst I can't praise them enough for what they've done for Noah - aren't able to provide everything he may need and so we're doing this to try and give him every opportunity to be able to do what he wants to do."

Mr Stephenson will begin the 880 mile journey with four of his friends at midnight on September 7, arriving in the city-state of Monaco 12 days later. They have christened the challenge, 'LOMOCA', which stands for London - Monte - Carlo.

One of Mr Stephenson's companions joined him in a similar challenge three years ago, when they cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End on Noah's behalf. The group hope to match the fundraising target that they achieved last time out.

"On our fundraising page the target I've put as £5,000," said Mr Stephenson.

"It would be nice to make that, whether or not we will I don't know.

"I think with the last one we raised just over £5,000, so it would be nice to get close to that again.

"We'd like to raise a lot of money, but it's equally about the challenge and raising awareness about Noah's condition," he said.

Mr Stephenson's challenge is being sponsored by Day's Rental and Eat Natural. To donate to Noah's cause, visit www.gofundme.com/LOMOCA.