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Survivor Mat helps launch meningitis awareness drive
15.07.11
A MENINGITIS survivor who is fighting back after being paralysed from the waist down, is hoping to help find a vaccine for the killer disease.
Mathew Johnstone was 17 when he was struck down with meningoccocal Y and septicaemia - a rare form of the potentially fatal brain bug in October 2010.
After spending nearly five months in hospital and undergoing intensive physiotherapy, the inspirational young man from Southampton started to regain movement.
Mathew, who is studying for his A Levels at King's Edwards in Southampton, is helping to launch a week-long awareness drive at Asda in Havant where he used to play rugby.
He said: "I was paralysed from the waist down after becoming ill the day after my 17th birthday. I am still in a wheel chair but I am slowly recovering as my nerves regenerate and I have been told it could take two years for me to make a good recovery.
"From my experience, people have a very limited knowledge of meningitis and I think it's good for people find out more and understand the disease better.
"I support Meningitis UK as the charity promotes awareness and provides support as well as funding research. To eradicate the disease completely is obviously the ideal solution."
Meningitis UK's giant trailer will be parked outside the store to highlight the symptoms of the disease and the need to act quickly, carrying the hard-hitting warning that meningitis can kill in under four hours.
Free wallet-sized symptoms cards will also be available to shoppers from the customer service desk and baby changing rooms.
Although successful vaccines exist to protect against some forms of meningitis, there is still no vaccine available to protect against all strains, including the most common in the UK – meningococcal group B.
Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK, lost his son Spencer to the disease in 1982 and has since dedicated his life to raising funds to help develop a vaccine to eradicate the deadly disease.
He will be launching the trailer and said: "Mathew is an inspiration and has shown great strength and determination. He is fortunately making a recovery but many people do not survive this disease.
"We're doing our best to raise awareness of meningitis and associated diseases.
"Sadly, there are also occasions when people show no or very few symptoms.
"For these reasons we believe that the only way to eradicate the disease completely is through the development of a preventative vaccine and the awareness trailer is a big part of our public education programme."
The trailer will be positioned at Asda until July 31, before continuing its tour around the UK.
The charity is also offering the public free symptoms information packs to help raise awareness. These include a leaflet with all the facts and frequently asked questions, plus a 'Check the Symptoms' fridge magnet and handy wallet-sized symptoms cards.
To order your free symptoms information pack, or to support the Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, call 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org.
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