Meningitis survivor sheds light on fundraising plans
AN ENSTONE man who nearly lost his life to meningitis is planning a number of fundraising events – from his garden shed.
Paul Worth, 47, was struck down with the killer brain bug in 2009 and subsequently suffered a stroke.
Found by his family on the bathroom floor, he was rushed to hospital where he spent two weeks recovering from meningococcal meningitis (group B) and septicaemia.
Things went downhill again for Mr Worth, who lost his coach licence after having a shunt fitted in his brain to release the pressure on his head caused by the stroke.
Undeterred, Paul – a director of Worth's Motor Services Ltd - is back in the driving seat in more ways than one, having regained his licence and celebrating a new lease of life.
The father-of-two, is now planning a fundraising drive from his very home in what he describes as a 'shed with a difference'.
For the past 10 years, Paul has enjoyed using his unlicensed, pub-style shed as an extension of his home to entertain friends.
He now intends it to become a new hub for fundraising events to support Meningitis UK.
Paul said: "I was sat in my shed one day thinking about what I had been through and I had a bit of a brain wave.
"I decided I wanted to so something to help other people. Having survived meningitis and a stroke with relatively few side effects, I realise just how lucky I am.
"I am going to put a Meningitis UK collection tin in the shed and then my friends can give a couple of pounds entry fee when they come around.
"I really want to help to raise awareness where I can. I have also decided to hold a six-nations rugby sweep stake for the final three matches in March, which should be fun."
As well as marking the third year since surviving meningitis, Paul is also celebrating the 90th anniversary of the family business - a service station and coach company started by his grandfather Thomas Worth (known as Dicky) in 1922.
A C.A.M.R.A. member and brewery liaison officer to local Hook Norton Brewery, Paul is looking forward to cracking open the real ales in support of Meningitis UK soon.
His wife Gillian, who works in local pub, The Crown Inn in Church Enstone, is whole-heatedly behind his idea as are his daughter Laura, 14 and son Thomas, 17, who is planning a CD-signing event with his band Hashtag Alice in his dad's shed.
Meningitis UK chief executive, Kate Rowland, said: "We are so grateful to Paul for deciding to support us by opening up his shed for fundraising events – we think it sounds like great fun and we look forward to hearing all about the six-nations sweep stake.
"We are so pleased that Paul has made a recovery, but many people are not so lucky. Meningitis can strike with incredible speed and is notoriously difficult to diagnose which is why we are solely focused on funding vaccines to protect future generations."
Cases of meningitis traditionally peak in February and the charity is encouraging people to trust their instincts and seek urgent medical attention if they suspect a case of the disease.
To request a free symptoms fridge magnet or find out more about the charity's Search 4 A Vaccine Campaign, please call 0117 303 33 41 or visit: www.meningitisuk.org
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
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