Toddlers in the St Day area of Cornwall are stepping out for charity next week as they take part in a national fundraising campaign.

Children from Sunny Days Nursery, which is part of Teyluva Children's Centre, will be joined by their families and members of the community for a Toddle Waddle on Friday September 28 at 10.30am.

The event is one of more than a thousand waddles going on across the country throughout October, co-ordinated by the national meningitis charity, Meningitis Trust. Sponsorship money will go towards ongoing support to families all over the UK who have been affected by meningitis.

The nursery, which adjoins St Day and Carharrack Community School, will create a "waddle course" with tunnels, a picnic area and a colouring competition. Partaking children will be making duck masks to wear in the waddle, in line with the event's national emblem, Monty the Duck. Up to 40 youngsters are expected to turn up for the event.

Teyluva Children's Centre offers health services, a range of support for families, a toy library and access to training and employment advice for parents and carers. It is one of growing number of Children's Centres being developed by Cornwall County Council's Family Services across the county. The aim is that all young children and their families in Cornwall will be able to access Children's Centre facilities by 2010. Further services at the centre include an after school sessions, access to health visitors, drop-ins, free IT access, links to on-site nursery Sunny Days, toddler play sessions, parenting groups and various training opportunities.

Event organiser Hilary Guthrie from Sunny Days Nursery said: "Last year we raised £118 and we're hoping to make even more this year for this charity. Meningitis is the largest fatal disease in under fives so we have a really good reason for supporting this charity."

Teyluva Children's Centre Manager Vicki Welch said: "We are really pleased that young children in the St Day area, as well as members of the community, are going to take part in this event which will not only raise money for an extremely important charity and teach children the virtues of helping others but will also be a lot of fun! We congratulate Sunny Days for organising this, hope they raise lots of money and wish them well next week."

Over the last eight years the Meningitis Trust's Toddle Waddle has raised almost £2 million nationally. This year, with the support of local nurseries, playgroups, schools and groups of friends and supporters, the Meningitis Trust aims to smash the £2 million barrier and raise more money than ever.