A dad is preparing to go through the pain barrier to raise awareness of a little-known bug which struck down his new-born son.

Self-employed window cleaner Mitch Jones, 37, of Golcar, is taking part in the Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross.

The 38-mile bike-and-hike challenge is dubbed the toughest cyclo-cross in the world.

The event, on September 29, involves riding and running up and down Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent.

Mitch, who will be joined by cycling pal Kevin Folan, 40, of Scapegoat Hill, hopes to raise cash and awareness for Group B Streptococcus (GBS).

Strep B, as it is commonly known, is a gut bacterium carried by up to 30% of adults in the UK.

In pregnant women the bacterium can be passed to the baby in the birth canal leading to serious conditions including meningitis, pneumonia or septicemia.

Mitch’s son Ralf, four on September 25, contracted the infection from mum Sally and developed meningitis.

He spent the first four weeks of his life in hospital but recovered.

Ralf has been diagnosed with dyspraxia, which affects movement, but is otherwise doing well.

The couple, who have another son Sonny, are campaigning for the charity Group B Strep Support and Mitch, a keen cyclist, decided on the cyclo challenge to highlight the condition.

By coincidence the event takes place on the anniversary of the day Ralf was diagnosed with meningitis and Sally’s 36th birthday.

Mitch hopes to raise more than £500 for the charity but said: “It is the awareness which is probably more important.

“People just haven’t heard of it and it’s something that’s so easy to combat.”

A simple test at around 35-37 weeks of pregnancy, carried out in other countries but not in Britain, detects the bacterium which can be easily treated with antibiotics.

Mitch, who regularly takes part in mountain bike marathons, will test himself at cyclo-cross for the first time.

“I wanted to go through the pain barrier and try something that pushes the boundaries,” said Mitch.

“Cyclo-cross involves riding and running. When the terrain gets too steep or rocky you have to carry your bike.

“I am used to bike marathons but nothing as extreme as this.”

To sponsor Mitch go to www.justgiving.com/mitchjones3peaks