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Mission to beat "merciless" meningitis

01.09.10 

A GROUP of 75 will be uniting in memory of popular student Ryan Bresnahan when they run the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday.

The 16-year-old Clifton College pupil died suddenly from meningitis at the end of March.

Wearing matching running vests, an army of his friends and family will be conquering the 13.1mile course to raise money to eradicate the deadly disease.

A tribute fund and website entitled ‘a LIFE for a CURE' - www.ryanbresnahan.org - has just been launched in Ryan's memory, detailing the wealth of fundraising events which have been planned.

His parents John and Michelle have joined forces with Bristol-based Meningitis UK to put a halt to the devastating disease which took Ryan's life in less than an hour.

They hope their fundraising efforts will mark the next chapter in Ryan's life and help spare thousands from falling ill with meningitis in the future.

John and Michelle, who live in Leigh Woods with 14-year-old daughter Charlotte, paid tribute to the "passionate, courageous and truly talented" youngster, who was a role-model for many of his peers at school.

John, who is running the half marathon himself, said: "The number of people who are fundraising in Ryan's memory is a testimony to how popular he was.

"Runners are coming from Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford and throughout the South West. We've been hugely touched by everyone's support."

Almost £25,000 has been raised through the ‘a LIFE for a CURE' appeal already thanks to a whole host of events, including a hockey tournament and golf day. 

Following the Bristol Half Marathon, over 250 people will be taking part in a mammoth It's A Knockout event which has been planned for September 19 at Clifton College Sports Ground.

John said the speed at which meningitis took Ryan's life has really shocked everyone as the disease is mistakenly associated just with babies and children.

He said: "The night before Ryan died he had been doing press-ups in the lounge. He had been to the gym in the afternoon and I'd watched a football match with him in the evening. There was nothing to suggest anything was remotely wrong until the next morning.

"Even then the symptoms didn't ring alarm bells as an upset stomach could have been caused by anything.

"An hour later and he was fighting for his life. The ambulance only took six minutes to arrive but within 10 minutes of them getting there a rash had spread all over his body and his heart had stopped."

His death came as a great shock to all who knew him and 900 people attended Ryan's Day - a funeral service held at Clifton College to celebrate his life.

A Facebook group set up in his memory has almost 1,500 members and a whole host of events have already been planned in his memory.

John added: "The support so far has been phenomenal. We felt ‘a LIFE for a CURE' summed up perfectly what we're aiming to achieve.

"Ryan lived life to the full and we're determined to help find this cure in his memory.

"Meningitis is merciless. With six families a week losing someone it's something that cannot be ignored.

"A vaccine is the only thing that could have saved him and we're determined to help find one. We see our fundraising mission as a new chapter in Ryan's life."

Ryan died from the group B strain of meningococcal septicaemia, which occurs when meningococcal bacteria enter the blood strain and multiply uncontrollably, poisoning the blood and completely overwhelming the immune system damaging the blood vessels, tissues and organs.

There are vaccines for Meningitis C, Hib and pneumococcal meningitis but there is still no protection from Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK.

Those most at risk are children under the age of five, those aged between 16 and 24, and people over 65.

All the money raised through ‘a LIFE for a CURE' will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to raise £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B.

Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after his son Spencer died from the disease, said: "We warn people that meningitis can kill in under four hours but in Ryan's case it was even faster. Sadly there were no warning signs and no treatment which could have saved him.

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

"We're grateful for everyone's support and wish them every success for the half marathon on Sunday."

To find out more about the ‘a LIFE for a CURE' campaign, visit www.ryanbresnahan.org