Story
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">From July 19th I’ll be cycling solo up the length of Scotland for Meningitis UK, from Berwick Upon Tweed to John O Groats. A distance of about 420 miles over 8 ½ days using mostly quiet roads and cycle routes. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">It’s a journey I’ve wanted to make for a while and my experience of Bacterial Meningitis and Septicaemia in January, plus the effects afterwards, made me appreciate that some opportunities in life are not to be sniffed at.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It spreads fast and can be life-threatening. The more serious types can kill in under 4 hours. Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, confusion, intolerance of light/noise, rashes, seizures and drowsiness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Sometimes Meningitis brings on Septicaemia, a form of uncontrollable blood poisoning that can result in loss of life or limbs. Symptoms of this include delirium, joint pain, cold hands/feet, fast breathing and vomiting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I frequently come across stories which I find upsetting. Such as a recent fatal outbreak at a school in Cornwall, a medical student who died after contracting it on a ward, and an expectant mother who survived but lost her baby.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Meningitis UK fund research into preventative measures, improving survival rates and better after-care. They also help promote awareness and provide support to those affected. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Donations are greatly appreciated and will go towards understanding such terrible illness. It’ll also help those that have been, or will be affected. If you're a UK taxpayer you may also select the Gift Aid option to increase your donation slightly at NO EXTRA COST to you. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">THANK YOU!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">David Scard</span></p>
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