A teenager has been given a short-cut in his bid to raise to thousands of pounds for a meningitis charity by trekking in Tibet.

Chris Mainprize is appealing for people to sponsor his part in the expedition - which aims to generate up to £55,000 for the Meningitis Trust.

The 19-year-old, of Yeadon, needs to raise at least £2,500 before he can take part in May's 12-day trek.

He has already got £800 and on Saturday he and seven colleagues had their heads shaved during a specially arranged fundraising fun day at Baildon's Focus DIY store, where Chris works as a sales assistant.

Chris said he signed up for the trek as a way of saying thank you to the Meningitis Trust, which helped a friend Mark Brown, 29, of Yeadon, who contracted a form of the disease.

He said: "We're hoping the event will have raised a few hundred more and would really like people to sponsor us.''

Chris said the trek, on which he will be joined by 25 other people from around the country, will involve hiking to Tibet's Xaisehanga mountain base camp, at an altitude of 12,000ft.

He said: "I've done Snowden and the Three Peaks but nothing at that altitude.

"We'll have oxygen with us but I'm pretty fit - I play football, cycle to work every day and I'm used to walking - so I'm sure I'll be able to cope.

"It'll be pretty tough but it's something I'm really looking forward to. The scenery's supposed to be absolutely breathtaking and it's a part of the world I've never been to and will probably never get to again.''

The former student at Rawdon's Benton Park School added: "It's the trip of a lifetime and the chance to raise money for a really worthy cause at the same time.

"One of my friends had meningitis C. He was very worried and got a lot of advice and support from the Meningitis Trust.''

Anyone wishing to sponsor Chris's adventure in Tibet should ring 07968 538429.

Raff Hussain gets ready to give colleague Chris Mainprize a close crop at the Focus DIY store in Baildon, pictured.