DIDCOT fundraisers the Thong Rangers will brave all weather conditions to stand on a board for 24 hours in support of a disabled baby.

Tomorrow, eight Thong Rangers led by Clifford Oakes, and five Rangerettes, will take part in an exh-austing challenge to raise as much money as possible for the family of one-year-old Ollie Petherick.

It will take place from midday tomorrow to midday on Sunday on the green opposite the Shell garage on Wantage Road.

Annie Petherick moved to Devizes in Wiltshire from Didcot but decided to call the Thong Rangers for help when she realised her son was very ill.

Ollie suffers from Angelman Syndrome and the Rangers are raising funds to help pay for his sensory equipment.

Angelman Syndrome is a rare genetic or neurological condition caused by a missing chromosome.

People diagnosed with the condition suffer delayed development, feeding problems, jerky limb movements, poor sleep patterns and profound learning speech and vision difficulties.

Mr Oakes, 49, from Kynaston Road, said the charity team would attempt an endurance test for the first time called Last Man Standing.

The father-of-two, who works as a binman, said: “With Last Man Standing all the Rangers and Rangerettes will stand on a 12-inch scaffold board for as long as possible.

“The board will be mounted on a trestle table which will be about 5ft off the ground and we will all be trying to stay up there for as along as possible.

“The target is 24 hours and I hope that some of us will last that long.

“Once you fall off the board you are out of the game and you can’t get back on. Obviously if someone loses concentration and pulls someone else down from the board the person who is dragged down will be able to get back on.

“This isn’t something we have ever tried before and one of the hardest things is going to be staying awake.

“I really admire soldiers in the Army and the work they do, including the soldiers who are at Vauxhall Barracks in Didcot, and I thought this would be like an Army-style endurance test.

“I don’t know how much we will raise for Ollie and his family but it’s certainly a deserving cause and I would love it if people gave generously. We would like to raise at least £1,000.

“We will be out there for quite a while so I’m hopeful that lots of people will come along and put money in the buckets.”

Ms Petherick, 23, said: “I knew all about the Thong Rangers from my friends and family and was really pleased when they agreed to help.

“I think Last Man Standing is a great idea and we will be along to watch on the day.

“Ollie responds well to sensory lights in classes he attends so money raised could buy some for our home.”