Two friends are putting mind over matter as they aim to raise money and awareness of a deadly illness which has touched both their families and friends.

Thomas Ginn, who works in recruitment, and sculptor Gavin Fulcher, both 33, and from Norwich, hope to assemble a group of people who can help them achieve around 100,000 repetitions of various fitness exercises and complete a 200-mile run, all within a gruelling 24 hours.

The event is part of the duo's bid to raise funds for UK charity Meningitis Now.

Meningitis is inflammation of the protective layers that surround the brain and spinal cord, and can be fatal.

Mr Ginn is raising funds in memory of Ollie Towler-Jones, a 18-year-old Norwich teenager who died from meningitis after becoming unwell during a trip to the Latitude festival at Henham, near Southwold, in 2014.

Mr Ginn is joined by his friend of more than 20 years, Mr Fulcher, whose brother-in-law's nine-month- old son needed vital treatment for the illness, but has since recovered.

With the help of around 200 people, the duo will attempt a 24-hour 'WOD' (Workout of the Day), in which the aim is to achieve 10,000 skips, 15,000 pull-ups, 22,500 push-ups, 22,500 box jumps, 30,000 sit-ups, and 200 miles of running.

The plan is to have 24 hour-long blocks of 12 people doing the exercises, with the duo's friends and family, including Mr Ginn's 64-year-old mother, signing up to an hour's work-out.

'It's a terrible illness and there doesn't seem to be much awareness of it,' Mr Ginn said.

The duo are inviting the public to take part in the challenge.

The event will be held on March 5-6 at CrossFit Gain Gym, off Bessemer Road, Norwich.

To sign up email Mr Ginn on thomasaginn@yahoo.co.uk

To donate to the pair's fundraising campaign visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TomandGavslondonmarathon

Are you raising money for charity? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk