Father's run to help meningitis research (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Father's run to help meningitis research

A LUDGERSHALL father who lost his daughter to meningitis, is backing the Meningitis Research Foundation's efforts to raise awareness of the blood-poisoning form of the disease.

Andrew Meighan wants to highlight local awareness of both meningitis and of the disease septicaemia, by running in the annual BUPA Great South Run during Meningitis Awareness Week.

Mr Meighan said: "We lost our one-year-old daughter Emily to pneumococcal meningitis in November 2004.

"Her death devastated our family and now I just want to encourage everyone to get all the facts about these devastating diseases.

"That's why I'm working with Meningitis Research Foundation to raise money and awareness during Meningitis Awareness Week.

"The Great South Run is Britain's biggest ten-mile road race and he will be joining over 16,000 other runners in Southsea on October 9.

Anyone wishing to sponsor him can do so by contacting Alison Bertram at the Foundation on 01454 280415.

Last year in the UK there were more than 3,000 cases of meningitis and septicaemia resulting in some 300 deaths. Although there are vaccines which provide protection against some forms of the diseases, they cannot prevent them all.

Awareness is therefore the key to ensuring a rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Denise Vaughan, the foundation's chief executive said: "Meningitis and septicaemia are devastating diseases which can kill in hours. During the Awareness Week Meningitis Research Foundation aims to save lives by alerting people to the fact that free symptoms information is provided to callers to its freefone 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344."