STROUD charity Meningitis Now is to benefit from a wrestling match organised by a fighter who nearly died when he was a baby.

Darren Brown, 35, contracted meningitis when he was just five months old.

The wrestler, originally from Cirencester, said: “It was touch and go but I did make a full recovery, and feel so lucky to have survived meningitis.”

Darren, whose ring name is The Thundercat, set up Cirencester Wrestling Federation (CWF) at the start of the year, with the aim of raising money for charity.

The CWF will host its first annual charity wrestling fest, in aid of Meningitis Now, on Saturday, August 16, at Deer Park School, Cirencester.

“I wanted to do an annual charity event, and the first one is in aid of Meningitis Now because I’ve always wanted to do something to help fight the disease,” Darren said.

“It will be a fun spectacle starring top wrestlers guaranteed to entertain, so I hope lots of people come to support such a worthy cause.”

Meningitis Now’s Steve Dayman said: “We thank Darren for helping us tackle the disease – it will be an action-packed event.”

The seven-match event stars Darren plus 12 other wrestlers, and starts at 12.30pm.

Tickets cost £5 (free for under-5s) and are available from the Wheatsheaf Inn, Cirencester, from Darren on 07881 345501, or on the door.