News & events

• Latest news
  • News archive
  • Fighting for a vaccine in memory of Kayden
  • Meningitis strikes Mossley family twice
  • Motocross in memory of Kelsey
  • Survivor Louise launches Big Stroll at Giants Causeway
  • Running in memory of Ross
  • Brave parents raise awareness in memory of Kadyn
  • Friends and family unite to remember Joél
  • Pounding the pavements in memory of Hannah
  • Meningitis survivor takes on personal swimming challenge
  • Raising awareness of meningitis in memory of Samantha
  • Runners unite for World Meningitis Day
  • Torch bearer Sally swims for the fight against meningitis
  • Take part in the Great North Run
  • Walking in memory of Stuart
  • Families step out for Big Stroll North East
  • Pub punters help stamp out meningitis
  • Meningitis UK welcomes Meningitis B vaccine trial news
  • Families touched by meningitis help launch awareness trailer
  • Motocross fundraiser in Kelsey Smart's memory raises £900
  • Pop starlet Pixie ready for charity jubilee concert
  • Team of cyclists taking on Pembrokeshire Charity Bike Ride in Hannah Gwilliam's memory
• Photo gallery
• Video
• Media centre
• Newsletter
• Supporter DVD
• 10th Anniversary
• Information days
• Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign

News RSS Feed

Three sisters' Big Trek in memory of cousin

04.08.11

THREE sisters from Leicester are taking strength from each other as they prepare to trek the UK's highest peaks in memory of their cousin who died from a devastating brain bug.

Jas and Jags Atwal, aged 19 and 26 from Rowley Fields, will be joined by their sister Sukhi Sandhu, 32, who now lives in Essex, as they scale three mountains in just 24 hours for Meningitis UK.

Their cousin, Raj Takhar, who grew up with them in Leicester and later moved to Toronto, Canada, tragically lost her battle with meningitis in June 2010 aged 18.

Jas, an international business student at De Montfort University said: "We sadly lost Raj last year and we are doing this in her memory, for our loss."

Sukhi added: "We were very close to Raj. She was loud and bubbly and really lived for the moment. She was beautiful inside and out and she was so proud of her family.

"We have been training and did a practice-run in the Lake District and we feel more confident and are really looking forward to it.

"It's so nice to be doing this as sisters as we can really support each other along the way."

The sisters will be starting with Ben Nevis in Scotland, before heading to Scafell Pike in England and finishing triumphantly on the top of Mount Snowdon in Wales.

Jags said: "It is unbelievable that we are doing this - it's still hard to get our heads around the fact that we are walking in memory of Raj.

"We want to do this to raise awareness of meningitis and to help find a vaccine so that other families do not have to go through this – no parent wants their child to die before them."

They will also be thinking of their other sister Sat Bains, 28, also from Leicester, who wanted to take part in the Big Trek, but who is looking after her son.

Meningitis UK fundraiser, Toya Champ from Bristol, has organised the challenge and will be joining the 12 walkers from across the UK.

She said: "This isn't a challenge for the faint-hearted as we will be climbing a total of 3,000 vertical metres and travelling 480 miles between the three peaks. But, this is an exciting and adrenaline-fuelled adventure these walkers will never forget.

"We are a group of like-minded adventurers, all keen to get the best out of this weekend and raise vital funds for Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign and I am looking forward to us all coming down from Snowdon on Sunday morning buzzing."

To donate to Meningitis UK, or for more information about meningitis visit: www.meningitisuk.org or call 0117 373 7373.