Meningitis Research Foundation, Please read story

I’m running Berlin Half Marathon on 7th April 2024 in aid of Meningitis Research Foundation.

Why Meningitis Research Foundation you will ask?

I contracted Meningitis aged 10, please read my Mum’s account of the illness below -

“Thirty years on, I’m still haunted by the sight of my 10 year old son Kristian, curled up on a hospital bed, surrounded by a dozen doctors and nurses frantically trying to save his life. I can immediately cry at the thought of this to this day.

The previous night he’d gone to bed, as normal with his younger brothers. When he woke, he had a rash and didn’t feel too well. I assumed he’d caught measles so wasn’t too worried. A hour later, he started to feel poorly, he didn’t want the tv on, didn’t want the curtains open, he wasn’t himself. Despite it being a Saturday, I decided to call the doctor (it was in the days when they did home visits), our doctor agreed to come out. On examination he thought kristian had got Scabies, he wrote out a prescription for ointment. As he was leaving, my instinct called him back to have another look. He asked Kristian to bend his head to touch his chest with his chin, he couldn’t do it, the rash was getting worse. Doctor decided to call for an ambulance, he believed he’d got an infectious disease. I had no idea what it might be and the doctor said he’d never come across this in his career. Kristian was rushed to our local Kingsmill hospital. His condition was rapidly worsening before my eyes. The rash was developing like bruising, at an alarming rate.

I could see the seriousness of the situation on the medics faces, I sought reassurance but was given no false hopes. I was absolutely devastated, I could see my healthy, happy boy now curled up like a baby, dying before me.

I’d never heard of Meningococcal Septicaemia, I don’t believe many people had at that time. I was informed of the worse case scenario, loss of limbs, brain damage, death. I prayed to God, I’d take loss of limbs but please, don’t let my boy die.

With my eternal thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Kingsmill Hospital, kristian pulled through unscathed and returned home. Unfortunately, against all odds, two weeks later my 3 year old son developed the same condition. Thankfully, with the knowledge and understanding I then knew, he was rushed to hospital at the first signs of a rash and was treated immediately, making a full recovery too.

To see my sons now, 30 years later, living active healthy lives, and with children of their own, I will be forever in the debt of medics and the Meningitis Research Foundation Trust. The work they do to raise awareness of this devastating disease is a true lifesaver”

If it wasn’t for my Mothers instinct & care received by the amazing doctors and nurses at Kings Mill hospital, I may not be here today.

Please donate if you can for this worthy cause

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Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Meningitis Research Foundation and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Meningitis Research Foundation: Our vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. To achieve this we fund research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes. We promote education and awareness to reduce death and disability, and give support to people affected