My lovely friend Becky Holmes died when we were just 16 - we were mid way through taking our mock GCSEs at the time. On the Thursday she didn't come in to school, I heard she had been taken ill in the early hours of the morning and had gone to hospital with suspected meningitis. I had heard of meningitis, I thought it mostly affected babies and little children. I texted Becky to say I hoped she felt better soon - that evening I had calls from her family and other friends to say she'd become more poorly and was being transferred to a London hospital for intensive care - I remember becoming worried and asking her mum to send her love and say I would visit on the weekend - after 7 pm I spoke to her big sister who was on the way to London and asked if she knew how Becky was, I still remember her words, "do you really want me to tell you Fi? Becky died at 20 past 7"

Becky's death changed and affected so many lives - her families, her friends & as well as sending a shock wave of sadness through the school - even if you hadn't known her it was just so tragic to hear of a 16 year old had died of such a sudden illness. 

Becky's death was a massive contributing reason that I chose to become a doctor. I have studied meningitis, have learnt the signs and symptoms - and I have encountered many suspected cases - thankfully, the fatal meningococcal septicaemia is rare, but not yet cured. Over the summer I worked in a paediatric hospital in Brighton - the meningitis awareness posters, made by The Meningitis Research Foundation are found everywhere around the hospital. The evidence based up to date guidelines on emergency treatment are supplied by the Meningitis Research Foundation for the doctors to use. Lots of parents bring in their sniffly unwell children because they are worried about meningitis, because they are aware of the symptoms, often thanks to information from Meningitis Research Foundation. Several new vaccinations have been developed, a brand new one just this summer for babies, teenagers & university freshers  - which has been developed using funds raised by the Meningitis Research Foundation - it is a good charity which does great work which I see in action day to day. 

Earlier this summer I was working in Brighton's paediatric A&E when a teenage boy was brought in with suspected meningitis - at home he had been awake but unwell and an ambulance had rushed him to the specialist hospital - but he was already so unwell, despite emergency efforts of resuscitation, he died soon after arriving. His family and his friends, lives all changed in an instant.

There are so many great charities out there - but Meningitis Research Foundation is close to my heart and I would be so grateful for any support you can offer! - many thanks!