An Otley mother has pledged to raise money for a brave four-year-old girl with meningitis when she enters a major race.

Rachel Hunt, of The Gills, was so upset by reading the stories about Danielle Skilbeck in the Wharfedale Observer that she decided to take part in the Great North Run in her honour.

The 27-year-old nanny wants people to sponsor her in the October race to raise funds to give Danielle a better life.

Danielle was struck down by meningitis last month and Rachel's offer of support has joined those from thousands of people from across the country.

Rachel said: "I ran the Great North Run last year for the Multiple Sclerosis charity and this year I had entered but I wasn't going to run for a charity until I read about Danielle in the paper.

"Everything that has happened is so awful that I thought it would be nice to raise some money for her.

"Danielle was in the same nursery class as my son, Daniel, at Ashfield nursery and what has happened is tragic. It could have happened to anyone.

"I don't know her or the family personally but I want to do everything I can to help them.

"I decided that I would get sponsorship for the run and hopefully raise some money for Danielle."

"I have been training three times a week for the run by running and going to aerobics. Last year my time in the race was two hours and four seconds and I am hoping to improve it this year."

Rachel's husband Jamie Hunt will also be taking part in the race.

More than £5,000 has been raised from charitable donations from across the country to improve the little girl's standard of life.

Last week her mum, Lindsay Pollard, was given the devastating news that Danielle will lose all of her fingers and possibly her knee caps.

She has already had the lower parts of her legs amputated as a result of contracting the meningococcal septicaemia strand of meningitis.

It is now unlikely that she will be able to take up her place at Ashfield Primary school this year with her other friends from the nursery.

Hundreds of cards, gifts and donations have been flooding in from well wishes from across the country.

The youngster, who is currently recovering in St James' Hospital, in Leeds, is due to under go a skin graft next week and will hopefully be discharged before Christmas.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Rachel's run in aid of Danielle can pledge support by calling 01943 465048.

There will also be a fundraising day on Sunday, September 15, in Otley market square, between 12pm to 4pm, where people can pay for rides on Harley-Davidson motorbikes to raise money for Danielle.