Wedding ball calls out for belles
19.02.10
A LUTON bride is calling for wedding belles to dust off their dresses and help in the fight against meningitis.
Cindy Sitambuli-Davis, from Telscombe Way, is organising a Wedding Charity Ball in memory of her two siblings who have died from the deadly brain bug.
She's hoping 120 people will snap up tickets for the event on May 1 at the Best Western Menzies Strathmore Hotel.
All proceeds, plus a raffle and auction, will help raise money for Meningitis UK and its goal to find a vaccine for Meningitis B - the strain of the disease which killed her brother Saleem in October 2007, aged 21.
Cindy, who married husband Ken last year, said she felt holding a Wedding Ball would be a good opportunity for people to dig out attire from their big day and have fun while raising money for a good cause.
She said: "I was thinking how much money I had spent on my wedding dress yet only wearing it once. I started talking to colleagues and they thought it was a good idea too.
"The theme of the night is weddings so it gives people the opportunity to wear their dresses but people can also wear ball gowns, or something nice that they would wear as a wedding guest.
"We're currently putting together a programme of entertainment, with singers, dancers and a DJ so it will be a really fun night."
Cindy also called for local businesses to rally round and donate prizes for the auction and raffle.
Over £2,000 has been raised for Meningitis UK in Saleem's memory, and his family have been working hard to raise awareness among the student population, who are the second most at-risk group from the brain disease.
The 21-year-old politics and international relations student was discovered dead in his bedroom at his halls of residence at the University of Aberdeen.
Saleem, a former Putteridge High School and Luton Sixth Form College student, had been out drinking with girlfriend Jodie Roger and her family on the Friday night.
He awoke the following day feeling worse for wear and told Jodie, a 23-year-old nurse, that he just wanted to sleep off his hangover.
But when she was unable to contact him during her 12-hour shift on the Sunday, she began to worry.
Cindy, 36, said: "Jodie had spoken to him on Saturday and he said he felt hungover and was going to sleep. But when he didn't reply to her text messages she began to worry and went to see him at his halls. His flatmate let her in and they found Saleem dead in his bed."
"When she pulled back the covers, he had a rash on his body - a classic sign of meningococcal septicaemia, which is the most dangerous form.
"Jodie and our whole family were absolutely devastated, especially because my older brother Kruger died of meningitis when he was 15."
Although Saleem was not born at the time of Kruger's death, Cindy says he was aware of the symptoms.
She added: "Saleem just thought he was hungover. He loved his bed and presumed he would wake up feeling better.
"The symptoms are so similar to everyday illnesses and it strikes so quickly, with little warning, which is why we need to help Meningitis UK find a vaccine for this dreadful disease to save thousands of lives in the future."
Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK, which can kill in under four hours.
Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after his son Spencer died from the disease, said: "Cindy's gone to a fantastic amount of effort and the Wedding Ball sounds like it will be a night to remember.
"Hopefully everyone will get behind her and lend the event their support.
"Saleem's experiences illustrate the speed at which meningitis can strike, with very few symptoms to distinguish the disease from more common illnesses or, indeed, a hangover.
"Every penny raised will go towards our single focus - to find a vaccine to eradicate meningitis and save thousands of lives in the future."
Tickets for the ball cost £35, which includes a three-course meal, glass of wine and entertainment for the evening.
Further information is available from Cindy on 07961 171542 or email info@charityeventsfundraiser.co.uk. There is also a website for event updates and ticket information - www.charityeventsfundraiser.co.uk
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