ONE family taking part in the Toddle Waddle at Hereford Leisure Centre had a very special reason for toddling.

Matthew and Kelly Pember and their two children, Evie and Charlie, notched up a circuit of the athletics track in the annual event, that was launched five years ago in memory of Matthew's sister, Bethan, who died in August 2000 after developing meningococcal septicaemia.

Every year, about 400 children from the leisure centre's Gym Teenies, Gym Tots and Gym Kids classes take part in the fund-raising event, the brainchild of leisure centre staff, colleagues of Bethan's mother, Vivien, who works in the creche.

In the five years since the first toddlers waddled around the track, more than £10,000 has been handed over to the Meningitis Trust in Bethan's memory.

Collection buckets will remain at all Teenies, Tots and Kids classes for several weeks. Anyone wishing to donate can do so at any class, any day of the week except Wednesday.