THE son of Bradford City goalkeeper Colin Doyle has been made a young ambassador for a national meningitis charity.

Harry, 14, a pupil at Bingley Grammar School, has taken on the volunteering role with charity Meningitis Now and has also received an accolade from his teachers for his community work, raising awareness about the condition and raising funds to help fight it.

The teenager, whose seven-year-old brother Liam battled the disease, becomes the charity’s 37th young ambassador and will spread word about its work and help fundraise.

His parents, Colin and Becky Doyle, who live in Keighley, also support Meningitis Now through an organisation they set up called Liam’s Smiles.

Harry’s mum has hosted several balls, run the London Marathon, trekked the Great Wall of China and led many fundraising activities, raising more than £100,000 so far.

She said: “We’re really proud of Harry, who is tireless in his support for Liam and raising awareness of this awful disease. It’s great that his efforts have received this recognition.

“All our lives changed forever the night Liam first became ill. Since then Liam has spent so much time in and out of hospital.

“Meningitis Now has been providing support and guidance not just for Liam but for the whole of our family. They have given us so much strength and we’re so pleased that Harry is now able to give something back in this way.”

At the end of term Harry was awarded the John Patterson Award from school to mark his community work.

Harry said: “I know how devastating this disease is and see every day the effect it has on my brother Liam and the rest of my family. I want to make sure that no one in my community goes through meningitis alone.

“It’s also vital that everyone learns the symptoms, which can save lives and help people avoid life-changing after-effects such as brain damage and epilepsy.

"It’s an honour to join the Young Ambassador team at Meningitis Now and I’ll do all I can to support their work, together we can beat this disease.”

To make a donation go to meningitisnow.org, the freephone helpline is 0808 80 10 388 or to find out more about Liam’s Smiles visit liamssmiles.co.uk.