Hello. My name is Matthew Scholand and I am working to raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation here in the UK. Meningitis is a horrible illness that sadly claimed the life of one of my primary school friends, Madeleine Latham-Fox. I am undertaking this fundraising effort in her honour, and to raise awareness about meningitis in general.

The Meningitis Research Foundation has an ambitious goal to end meningitis. Their vision statement says: “By 2030 we want to see meningitis defeated. This means reducing new cases of meningitis by 50%. Reducing deaths by 70%. Ending epidemics. Ensuring people get the support and aftercare they need. It is a highly ambitious aim, but one that we and our partners in this work think is achievable.” Vinny Smith, Chief Executive, Meningitis Research Foundation.

My friend Madeleine, who everyone knew by her nickname “Maddy” had a wonderful spirit, a creative mind and was friend loved by everyone in our class. In our Year 6 class yearbook, Maddy said her career ambition was to become a drama teacher, and she described herself with one word “random”. She was creative, outgoing and had a vivid imagination. At just 14 years old, she caught meningitis and sadly was not able to beat the illness.

I am participating in a charity fundraising challenge programme, organised in cooperation with the Meningitis Research Foundation, to raise money for their research programmes, which have totalled nearly £20 million over the last three decades. The challenge I am taking on involves me travelling to Peru and climbing Machu Picchu with a small group of university students. This will be the trip of a lifetime, and I am really hopeful I can reach my fundraising target which would mean thousands of pounds for the Foundation.

Thank you so much for reading this and for sponsoring me. All the best, Matthew.