About

Before i joined Meningitis Now in 2012 i knew nothing about meningitis. Since then I have learnt a lot about the disease, the facts and figures, the research that has been done and what there is still to do but the most hard-hitting are the stories i have heard. Stories from mums, dads, friends, colleagues, grandparents-the list goes on. Everyday i speak to people who have been affected by meningitis. Some people have recovered, some have had family members die and some have been left with life-changing after-effects. 1 in 10 people who contract meningitis will die and 1 in 3 will be left with crippling after-effects. After-effects such as deafness, blindness, epilepsy, brain damage, paralysis and limb loss. Its a scary disease and can affect anyone, at any age, whatever state of health they are in. I have heard of children, teenagers and adults contracting meningitis in my 2 years working hear- all with different outcomes. Although I work in the fundraising part of the charity I still take calls of support. Some have more effect on me than others. Today I took a call from a father whose 18 year old daughter contracted meningitis earlier this year and has been left paralysed from the neck down. It was a really tough call but it was comforting that I could tell him that Meningitis Now could help him and his family. Meningitis Now is a charity with almost 30 years experience. Our vision is a future where no one in the UK loses their life to meningitis and everyone affected gets the support they need to rebuild their lives. We do this by: Funding preventative research in the hope that one day we can help to eradicate meningitis Raising awareness and educating people about the disease by handing out free signs and symptoms cards, providing hospitals and surgeries with information and giving awareness talks to schools, business and community groups Providing support to families and individuals through our range of support service such as counselling, home visits, bereavement therapy, creative therapy, one-to-one support, free helpline and financial grants to cover costs such as mobility equipment, home adaptations and funeral costs. 6 can pay for 200 meningitis signs and symptoms cards. 10 can pay for craft materials to help two siblings affected by meningitis express themselves with a session of art therapy. 20 can provide 150 meningitis information packs. 30 can help keep our freephone helpline running for two hours. 45 can pay for one hour of bereavement counselling. 100 can pay for a days research into preventing meningitis. 375 can pay for a parent of a child with hearing loss to take a sign language course so they can communicate with each other. 500 can purchase a lab computer to record and analyse crucial preventative disease research. http://www.meningitisnow.org/ So to do a bit extra outside of my job I am abseiling down Avon Gorge in October and would like to take the opportunity to help some of the people I talk to. 100% of what is donated on this page goes to Meningitis Now. Thank you.