RUNNING '30 HALF MARATHONS' BEFORE I AM 30 (SEPT 2012)

WHEN Tom Conibere spent his 10th birthday in hospital battling back from meningitis, he didn't know whether he would live to see future celebrations.

Despite an extremely rare form of the disease, caused by a tick bite, Tom pulled through and is now planning an unusual way to mark his 30th birthday.

The 26-year-old plans to complete 30 runs before the big day in September 2012 - and he's already achieved two of the challenges on his list.

Tom, from Springboig in Glasgow, is aiming to raise at least £1,000 for Meningitis UK, the national charity which funds research to wipe-out all forms of the deadly disease.

He remembers how he first fell ill after being bitten by a deer tick in Luxembourg, where he was visiting an aunt.

Tom, who lived in Cheshire at the time, said: "I felt sick and was in bed all the time. I wouldn't let my mum open the curtains in my room.

"We went to the doctor but he said it was just a bug. Mum persisted and, after going to the doctors most days, I got admitted to hospital.

"I had lots of tests but they couldn't work out what was wrong with me. By this point all my facial muscles has collapsed and I couldn't eat or drink anything. My neurological system was breaking down."

Tom was transferred to Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester, where a pediatrician had luckily seen a similar case before.

He diagnosed Lyme Meningitis - a highly unusual form of the brain bug which develops from a tick bite.

Tom was pumped full of antibiotics four times a day and slowly got better, even being schooled in hospital.

He remembered: "I was in hospital for a total of five weeks. It was a tough time, especially when no one knew what was wrong with me.

"Slowly but surely I got better and thankfully wasn't left with severe arthritis. I still get pains in my legs sometimes but appreciate how lucky I've been to make such a good recovery, which is why I've set this challenge for myself."

Tom loved sport at school but decided to pursue his talent in music, which has led him to become a member of the Whitburn Brass Band, in which he plays the trumpet.

It was during a holiday in Florida last year that a friend encouraged him to start running again and Tom's passion was reignited.

The novel way to mark his 30th birthday was hatched after reading about a woman who ran 40 marathons before she turned 40.

Tom's completed the Monklands and West Lothian Half Marathons already, setting a personal best time of one hour and 44 minutes.

Tom, who works for the Halifax Bank of Scotland, said: "I thought about it and figured running a race every month for 10 months a year would be possible.

"I've done two already and have raised £165. In total I'm aiming to raise at least £1,000 but £3,000 would be a brilliant target to reach."

Money raised from their running efforts will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign. It aims to raise £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK, which accounts for 90 per cent of cases.