Families stride out to beat meningitis
01.10.10
FAMILIES whose lives have been hit by meningitis will be walking 16 miles on Saturday to help eradicate the deadly disease.
Meningitis UK's 16-day charity walk begins in Bridlington, where over 20 people will be joining forces to raise awareness about the killer brain bug while fundraising for the charity's vaccine research work.
It's hoped the whole 334 mile route to Brighton will raise over £50,000.
Included in the line-up of dedicated supporters is three generations of the Marlow family from Bridlington.
Lucy Marlow, 21, made a miraculous recovery from the disease when she was eight.
She had all the symptoms apart from the rash, which developed in the ambulance on the way to hospital.
Lucy said: "I don't remember anything apart from going to bed feeling really ill, then waking up a week later in intensive care.
"Doctors initially told my mum that I would be brain damaged and wouldn't be able to walk again. But I've proved them wrong.
"I was in hospital for about three months but managed to learn to walk again. I realise how lucky I am and feel like I've been given a second chance which is why I'm taking part in the walk – I want to help other people in the future."
Lucy will be joined by her brother Kris, parents Penny and Paul, aunt Sharon Wright and grandmother Margaret Collier.
Friends and family of Driffield teenager Michael Dodgson, who died from meningitis in 2005 aged 17, will also be walking the full 16 miles in his memory.
It will be his mum Lynne's fourth walk for Meningitis UK to help raise money towards the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to raise £7million to help fund research into developing a vaccine against all forms of the disease.
Lynne said: "It's always a really enjoyable day and it's great to see people turn out for such a good cause.
"It's a whole family effort for us and it helps to know that we're doing something positive in Michael's memory."
Eight-year-old Isabella Taylor suffered what doctors described as the "worst case of meningitis" they'd ever seen when she was just two.
Now, having made a miraculous recovery, the youngster from Nafferton will be striding out with her family on day one.
Her mum Rashelle, 42, said: "Scarborough Hospital said it was the worst case of meningitis they'd ever seen.
"She was unconscious for 10 days. It was a horrendous time but we feel absolutely blessed that she's survived with just a small scar on her leg."
Steve Dayman, the Chief Executive of Meningitis UK, will be walking the entire 334 mile route and is set to be joined by over 100 supporters along the way.
The fundraiser will be his 30th marathon walk in memory of his son Spencer, who died from the disease in 1982, aged 14-months.
Steve said: "I am very grateful to everyone for joining me on the walk, and sharing their experiences.
"Their personal experiences tragically illustrate just how quickly meningitis can strike, often with very little warning.
"Six families a week still face the heartbreak of losing a loved one to meningitis. It goes without saying that the more support we receive, the sooner a vaccine can be developed.
"Money raised through this walk, and with the continued support of the general public, will help us continue our vital work and achieve our goal of eradicating meningitis."
The Bridlington to Brighton route will pass through Beverly, Goole, Thorne, Bawtry, Retford, Southwell, Nottingham, Loughborough, Hinkley, Southam, Banbury, Woodstock, Wantage, Newbury, Basingstoke, Alton, Petworth and Shoreham before ending in Brighton on October 17.
For more details on the walk, or to make a donation, please call 0117 373 73 73 or visit www.meningitisuk.org
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
Comments
Comments are temporarily closed for this article