Leigh’s run to conquer meningitis
13.09.10
A MERSEYSIDE dad is preparing to conquer the Great North Run in memory of his son who died suddenly from meningitis last year.
Cute toddler Daniel Tierney died less than 24 hours after showing any signs of being ill on June 6 2009, just a few weeks after his second birthday.
Now his dad Leigh, from Wallasey, is hoping to raise over £350 for Meningitis UK when he pounds the 13.1 miles between Newcastle and South Shields on September 19.
He will be joined by friend and Weatherhall High School caretaker Billy Myles, whose daughter Kayleigh survived the disease when she was just 17-months-old.
Over £7,000 has already been raised for the charity's vaccine research work in memory of Daniel, who was a pupil at Pitter Patter Day Nursery and has been described as "a special little man".
Leigh, 51, said: "Daniel was staying in the Lake District with his grandparents when he fell ill. He was a little whingey and his grandmother noticed that his feet were cold.
"She took him to the doctors but he sent them home and advised taking paracetamol. She wasn't having any of it and took him to the hospital in Whitehaven.
"They suspected he had meningitis straightaway and transferred him to Newcastle for specialist treatment the next day.
"I got there just in time but his body couldn't battle anymore. He'd lost all his blood pressure.
"It all happened in less than 24 hours. It was like a car crash. We're still in shock now."
Daniel died from the meningococcal septicaemia form of the disease, which occurs when bacteria enter the blood strain and multiply uncontrollably, poisoning the blood and completely overwhelming the immune system damaging the blood vessels, tissues and organs.
An annual football match held at The Farmer's Arms in Wallasey recently raised £1,365, taking the total raised in memory of Daniel to over £7,000.
All money raised in his memory will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign. It aims to raise £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK and the strain which killed Daniel.
Leigh and Billy will be part of the Meningitis Musketeers team, with the motto ‘All 4 One and One 4 All' - to highlight the devastating fact that meningitis can kill in under four hours.
Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman said "Leigh and Billy's running efforts are really remarkable. We're very thankful to them, not just for taking part in the Great North Run but also for sharing the devastating story of Daniel's death and helping to raise awareness of the disease.
"Every penny raised will go towards our single focus - to find a vaccine to eradicate meningitis. Every bit of help is so important in enabling us to continue our vital work.
"Our ultimate goal is to spare people the heartache thousands of families like Daniel's have suffered by losing a loved one to meningitis."
To give money towards their running efforts, please visit www.meningitisuk.tributefunds.com and search for Daniel Tierney.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
Comments
Comments are temporarily closed for this article