Carol, Meningitis, the Great North Run and Me  

On her birthday in January 2009, I asked my eldest sister what she had planned. "The celebrations are on hold", she said, "I'm going to the doctor's to get some industrial strength painkillers for my backache." This quirky response was typical of Carol, and I don't like to think of the pain she must really have been in. She never replied to the next text I sent asking if she was feeling better.

Meningitis has left a gaping hole in our family. Carol was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, incredibly young-at-heart grandmother and fabulously fun auntie. She was full of life and lived life to the full. In a room crowded with our extensive family, you could always hear Carol’s laugh, resounding above all others. It’s hard for any of us to believe that we’ll never hear that laugh again.

As for me, I’d really like to find answers to the many questions we’ve been left asking. But because I don’t think there will be any answers, I’m doing the next best thing, which is raising money for Meningitis UK. This charity is trying to raise £7,000,000 to fund a vaccine to protect others from the devastating disease. So I’ve signed up for the Great North Run in September 2009. At my first visit to the gym in February, I managed a feeble 1 mile on the running machine. I hope Carol is laughing, wherever she is.

Lastly, meningitis used to make me think of babies, floppiness and a rash that doesn’t disappear when the skin is pressed under a glass. But there are many different symptoms, and the disease can attack anybody, even healthy adults. The speed of its attack is truly shocking. So please, even if you don’t sponsor me, check up on the symptoms of meningitis for yourself (http://www.meningitisuk.org).

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Meningitis UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!