AN inspirational Didcot fundraiser battling an undiagnosed brain condition has vowed to resume his charity work as soon as he is fit.

Former St Birinus pupil Andrew Baker, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last Saturday, has raised more than £20,000 for Oxford Children’s Hospital after having brain surgery as a child.

But last year he was forced to scale back his fundraising after debilitating symptoms returned, including intense headaches and loss of balance.

On Monday, he returned to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for further tests.

Mr Baker pledged to resume fundraising when he was well enough, and urged people to continue giving money to the children’s hospital.

He said: “The last year or so has been a huge roller-coaster of a ride.

“It has been a horrid time, but there are others who face much tougher things with much more serious illnesses. I have been pretty lucky so far.

“Hopefully, the doctors will sort me out and I will be back raising more funds for causes close to my heart in no time.

“I want to continue fundraising as soon as I am fully fit to do so.”

At the age of 12, Mr Baker underwent major surgery to remove a bony spur in his skull formed after he was knocked over at primary school.

In 2003, he raised his first £1,000 for the Children’s Hospital appeal by persuading pupils and teachers at St Birinus School to take part in a non-school uniform day.

Six years later, he smashed his £20,000 target, raising £22,600 for the children’s hospital via fun nights, sponsored walks and football tournaments run by his charity Play2Give.

He was discharged from hospital in August 2006, having made a full recovery, and completed his A-levels a year later.

But early last year, nausea, dizziness and headaches returned.

By the middle of the year, his walking was unsteady and medics carried out tests in search of the cause.

He said: “I am trying to get out and about every day, but one day can be better than another. The really hard, intense headaches affect me more or less every day. It feels like water running through my head.

“The doctors know something is not quite right, but have not got to the bottom of it yet. I just try to keep positive, and other people help me with that. There is no point in being downhearted.

“As one friend tells me, I just keep going and going.”

Mr Baker, an Arsenal fan who is on sick leave from his job with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at Baptist House, Didcot, said he wanted to hold a charity fun night later this year, and to organise another Play2Give football tournament next year.

Play2Give committee member Teresa Thompson said: “Andrew is inspirational. He really is going through the wars at the moment, but he never stops. He amazes me. We have got to keep the fundraising calm at the moment, so Andrew can focus on getting better, because that is the most important thing.”