Helen Thompson should be looking forward to seeing her little boy's joy as he frantically opens his second birthday presents and blows out the candles on his cake.

Instead the young mum will spend the day taking part in a charity walk to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation in a bid to prevent other families going through the torture she has suffered since losing her 13-and-a-half month-old son Joel on December 5 last year.

Her "fantastic son" Joel went from being a happy smiley boy to comatose in just two days after being struck down by pneumococcal meningitis septicaemia.

Miss Thompson, 27, had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off Joel's life support machine after being told her son had no chance of recovery because his brain stem had died.

His death left the family, which includes five-year-old brother James and six-year-old sister Chloe, devastated.

"It has been awful," said Miss Thompson, of Prospect Close, Shipley. "I have found it difficult, we have all found it difficult.

"Now we want to help this charity because it receives no Government funding, it all comes through people like us."

She is currently organising two events to raise money. The first is a charity night on Friday, October 6, from 7.30pm at Windhill Conservative Club, 39 Carr Lane, Shipley.

There will be a raffle, bingo, a pie and pea supper and entertainment and everyone is welcome.

On Sunday, October 8, which would have been Joel's second birthday, Miss Thompson will lead a sponsored walk for all the children who knew Joel so they are able to feel they are helping as well.

The walk starts at 11am from Windhill Conservative Club and will return there for free food and entertainment, including a tombola and raffle. Every child who takes part will be presented with a certificate.

Miss Thompson said she hoped that being surrounded by family, friends and other children, would help her get through the difficult and emotional day.

She said: "I hope to raise as much money as possible through these two fundraising days as I feel this charity needs all the help and support it can get and hopefully one day a cure will be found in order to stop more children like Joel being taken away."

The charity funds research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia and to improve survival rates and outcomes. It also promotes education and awareness to reduce death and disability and gives support to people affected.

Miss Thompson has set up a website - www.justgiving.com/ helenthompsonjoel - to make it as easy as possible for people to donate to the charity in Joel's name.

By giving this way the money goes straight to the charity and gift aid can be added if you are a UK taxpayer.

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk