The Meningitis Research Foundation is a charity very, very close to the Crockatt Family's hearts - Without their hard work over many years, Sofia might not have survived after she contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia when she was only 2.  In 2013, at the age 8, Sofia became the first ever junior ambassador of MRF.

NB - To make life easier - we have closed previous JustGiving sites and added all donations to "off-line" donations on this page (Total £10,195.20).  This will be the site for ALL ongoing fundraising for MRF.

Last year we received the amazing news that the Men B vaccine will be available on the NHS - However - Now is not the time to get complacent - It is essential that we continue to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this deadly disease.

Sofia has completed many, many events over the last few years in the name of Meningitis Research Foundation, these include

Running the 1.5km Mini Great North Run, for four years running

Running the 2km Mini Great Manchester Run for 4 years running

Competing in a relay "Para-Triathlon" at Dorney Lake, Windsor, on 9th August 2015 with her pal Jettstream Jen Bellamy, and brother Dom - 150m Swim (Jen), 3km Cycle (Sofia), 1km Run (Jen/Sofia)

In 2016, Sofia's challenges included - 

1 - Running the Mini Great Manchester Run - May 2016  - 2km (DONE)

2 - Completing the 5km Knowsley Active Challenge on her Handcycle - June 2016 (DONE)

3 - Running the Mini Great North Run (Gateshead) Sept 2016 - 1.5km (DONE)

4 - Running the Parallel London inclusive event at the Olympic Stadium Sept 2016 - 1km (DONE)

Sofia's story.

February 17th 2007 - The day our lives changed forever!  After what initially looked like a minor flu bug, Sofia deteriorated, very quickly, and within a couple of hours was fighting for her life in The Royal Preston Hospital as the disease attacked her whole body.  After the amazing A&E team there had managed to stabilise her, Sofia was transferred to The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (then at Pendlebury) where the rollercoaster ride began.

Sofia spent 2 weeks in ITU where her life hung in the balance, each day. She fought each daily challenge, one at a time, despite being in an induced coma for the first few days.

Once Sofia was stable enough, she was transferred to Booth Hall Children's Hospital where the extent of the damage to her body became more and more apparent. The Crockatts lived at the hospital for several months, with daily, painful dressing changes, debridements, operations, skin grafts for Sofia.

The damage to Sofia's lower limbs was much worse than had been anticipated, due to the lack of blood flow to her extremities - It was decided that the only thing to do was amputate her left leg, and fight to save her right leg.

Sofia bounced back after several operations, and was eventually healthy enough to come home!

Fast forward almost TEN years, and Sofia is in a very different place. It is hard to imagine what she was fighting only a few years back. 

Each year, Sofia will be entering even more events, with her goals, purely altruistic.......to simply raise funds for Meningitis Research Foundation and raise awareness of the awful disease.  

and we would love it if you could support her.

Please note...this is NOT a plea to raise money for Sofia...NOT AT ALL - This is for the charity that CAN make a difference in reducing the incidence of, and eventually eradicating this devastating disease & its equally destructive sisters!

Please support Sofia's chosen charity, and pass this on to EVERYONE you know!

Thanks

Sofia (age 11 & 1/2), Nick (age 39 72/12), Dom (age 27) and Karen (age "daren't ask") 

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