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Brave John's close shave to save lives

MALDON businessman John Fallon is bravely having his hair and beard shaved off in his shop window to raise money for life-saving vaccine research in memory of his niece.

John Fallon, 40, is raising money for Meningitis UK after his niece Lili Backhouse sadly lost her battle with pneumococcal septicaemia on January 9, aged 23-months.

Mr Fallon, said: "We want to help in the fight to help to find a vaccine to stop this horrible disease.

Lili's twin Lucas also had the disease the same day. Thankfully he survived but sadly we lost Lili.

"I always wanted to do something in Lili's memory and to support my sister and brother in law, Julie and Brian Backhouse.

"We want to support Meningitis UK's Search For A Vaccine Campaign in the hope that one day there will be vaccines to protect people from every type of meningitis and the diseases associated with it like septicaemia."

Mr Fallon will be having his close shave at Hunts cookshop in Maldon on Saturday October 22 at 3pm.

Meningitis UK's chief executive Steve Dayman lost his son Spencer some time ago to meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia aged 14-months.

He said: "Everyone here at Meningitis UK is so grateful to John for his support – having your head and beard shaved off in public takes courage and we hope it is a fun event for him and the spectators on Maldon High Street.

"What happened to Lili sadly illustrates the speed at which meningitis and septicaemia can strike, with often very few symptoms to distinguish the disease from more common illnesses.

"The devastation experienced by her family reinforces the importance of finding a vaccine sooner rather than later.

"Every penny John raises will go towards this single focus and our ultimate goal to spare people the heartache of losing a loved one to meningitis."

To find out more about Meningitis UK or to donate to the charity, please call 0117 947 631 830 or visit www.meningitisuk.org