MENINGITIS-SURVIVOR Nick Bristow is celebrating his recovery by taking on a gruelling challenge.

The 18-year-old from Storrington plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro later this year in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation.

He fell ill in February 2016 and ended up in a coma for six days.

Nick, who is now at university, said: “I didn’t know anything about meningitis yet in such a short space of time it left a hugely significant impression on me.

“One night, as was the case with me, is all it takes to become critically ill.

“All I remember is I had a headache and stiff neck one Saturday evening.

“When I played football on the Sunday morning my neck was still really stiff.

“My mum tells me I completed a history essay in the evening, then went to bed with a bad headache.

“I do not really remember this happening, or the next seven to ten days.”

Nick was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment and stayed there for just over two weeks.

He said: “I will always be grateful for the amazing treatment I received in those two weeks, as well as the support of my friends and family.

“Despite returning home, I was still extremely tired and spent several more weeks recovering.

“It was not until after the Easter holidays that I felt well enough to return to college full time.

“I am so thankful I made a full recovery. However for many people this is not the case.

“I am now enjoying being a student at university and the whole experience seems a bit like a dream.

“It made me realise how easy it is to take your health for granted.”

Charity chief executive Vinny Smith said: “Nick is all too aware of the devastating effect meningitis can have.

“We are grateful to Nick for taking on this huge challenge to help raise funds.”

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa it will take Nick six days to climb it in September.

He aims to raise £3,000 for the charity and can be sponsored at southamptonkili.everydayhero.com/uk/nick-bristow-mount-kilimanjaro-climb-2017.