In the summer of 2015 we lost someone who has not just impacted my life to an untold degree but also the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children through his role as a teacher, a coach and all round sportsman. Andrew Vaughan was a fantastic role model; a great sportsman and an even better all round human. He was a man of high integrity, always encouraged people to do the right thing, and had a story for every occasion.

Sadly, at the age of 56, after a few days of not feeling well and in a daze got rushed into hospital and died a couple of days later having suffered from Sepsis. If you, like me haven’t heard of this then you’ll also be unaware of 1) The amount of people that die each year from sepsis 2) How easy it is to treat if found early, but worst is how quickly it can take a life if not detected early enough.

I’ve decided to take part in my first ever triathlon which is the Majorca Ironman 70.3 on 11th May in Andrew (Chief)’s memory. I like to think that I’m engaging many of the principles that Andrew taught me, mainly discipline, hard work and self belief. He set very high standards as a coach and a teacher and that was because he wanted the best out of his students and to see them succeed in whatever they attempted.

So, having spoken with Lynne, Daniel and the family would like to mainly raise awareness for Sepsis UK, but also much needed funds to help their cause on a national level. Alongside that we are raising money for the Andrew Vaughan pupil fund which has been set up in order to support students and sports teams with much needed support in the Afan Valley where Andrew taught for so many years and held so dearly and would like to see his legacy continued helping children be the best they can be.

I’m aiming to raise £3,000 for this great cause! Please read the info below about Sepsis, you never know when you may need this information to help a loved one.

Every 3.5 seconds, someone in the world dies of sepsis. In the UK alone, 52,000 people lose their lives to sepsis every year. This is more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined. Globally, sepsis claims 6 million lives a year. Yet with early diagnosis it is easily treatable.

WHAT IS SEPSIS?

Sepsis (also known as blood poisoning) is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Normally our immune system fights infection – but sometimes, for reasons we don’t yet understand, it attacks our body’s own organs and tissues. If not treated immediately, sepsis can result in organ failure and death. Yet with early diagnosis, it can be treated with antibiotics.

SYMPTOMS

Sepsis can initially look like flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection. There is no one sign, and symptoms present differently between adults and children.

HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN ADULTS

Seek medical help urgently if you (or another adult) develop any of these signs: • Slurred speech or confusion • Extreme shivering or muscle pain • Passing no urine (in a day) • Severe breathlessness • It feels like you’re going to die • Skin mottled or discoloured .

HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN CHILDREN

If your child is unwell with either a fever or very low temperature (or has had a fever in the last 24 hours), call 999 and just ask: could it be sepsis? A child may have sepsis if he or she: 1. Is breathing very fast 2. Has a ‘fit’ or convulsion 3. Looks mottled, bluish, or pale 4. Has a rash that does not fade when you press it 5. Is very lethargic or difficult to wake 6. Feels abnormally cold to touch A child under 5 may have sepsis if he or she: 1. Is not feeding 2. Is vomiting repeatedly 3. Has not passed urine for 12 hours .