FOUR soldiers raised more than £3,400 for meningitis victim Charlotte Nott by cycling, running and rowing the distance from Oxford to Afghanistan.

Staff sergeant Mark Dowland, 30, senior aircraftsman Scott Lee, 26, and private Scott Rossington, 24, completed the 100-day, 5,600km challenge at Camp Bastion.

Corporal Gareth Tibbs, 31, took part in the challenge in the UK from February 1 to May 11, and they all met Charlotte and her family for the first time yesterday at the Prince of Wales pub in Horspath Road.

The team, all from the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, were inspired to raise funds for five-year-old Charlotte after seeing an appeal on TV. The cash will help her family buy equipment for the Cowley youngster, who lost her limbs to meningitis.

Staff Sergeant Dowland said: “If there wasn’t anything visual you certainly wouldn’t know there was anything wrong. She is such a happy little girl.”