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Tuesday 15th of April 2008 my life was changed forever.

Beren went to a birthday party on the monday after school, you know the normal 10 year old mayhem,10 layer birthday cake, running round, games, photos, fun.

Arriving home tired , complaining of toothache, she took herself off to bed.

I visited later, as usual to see Zac,Cendl and Beren, I left having not seen Beren. I didn't see her to speak to again.

Arriving at 4 in the morning at Hereford hospital, to meet the ambulance,carrying Beren, knowing that she had Meningitis, seeing her covered in a rapidly spreading purple blotches,seeing the medical team fight for her every breath and heart beat ,until she was finally overcome four hours later, then telling her brother and sister she was dead,broke my heart and changed my life for ever. 

 We still miss her so much x

Why now?  The anger and the inadequacies that menigicocal septacaemea leaves you with, after bereavement, carry on. It also leaves you with the desire to change something for the better, from our loss.

Time marches on and now in 2010 we're planning an event of epic proportions for 2011!

1000 miles for a 1000 smiles 

Three hundred miles on a tandem to the channel, then another 700 miles in France, that’s the challenge that Jen Currie and Dan Rowbotham (both 48) have set themselves to raise funds and awareness of meningitis and septicaemia. As if that challenge wasn’t enough, the couple will be stopping off at parachute jump centres en route, where Dan will be joining other jumpers in raising money for their chosen charity, Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

The couple are taking the challenge because Dan’s daughter Beren died from the ravages of meningococcal septicaemia in 2008 aged ten. She was diagnosed as having septicaemia by the ambulance staff and they began treatment immediately, transferring Beren to the Hereford Hospital A and E Team who responded with a passion to try and save her. The disease won and Beren died four hours later.

The 14 day challenge will start on the 18^th June 2011 in Hereford and the 1000 miles will be completed in Vierzon in France by the 3^rd July. Dan’s drop sites will include one in Northamptonshire and one in Kent. The novel twist of including parachute jumps in the trip aims to stimulate press coverage. Both Dan and Jen have both completed charity tandem skydives previously and want to use this experience to help others to raise further funds to eradicate meningitis in all its forms.

On the UK leg, Jen and Dan are hoping to be met by as many friends of MRF en route who will offer the hospitality of overnight stays.

The crossing into France is by ferry, where the ride will then be supported by volunteers to complete the coastal route as far as Le Mont St.Michel, then on inland along the Loire valley to Vierzon.

To raise funds for the trip, Jen and Dan are planning a number of events, including a ceilidh, 80’s disco, a new band night,a rock and roll night, and orchestral and choral evenings.

Recent press coverage highlighted the fact that some hospital staff are still not fully aware of meningitis in all its forms, hopefully the trip will raise awareness in the media that information on this deadly disease is available for everyone, including health professionals.

MRF are a national charity dedicated to creating a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. They fund research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes. MRF also promotes education and awareness to reduce death and disability, and gives support to people affected.

Read Beren’s story at http://www.meningitis.org/book-of-experience/beren-rowbotham-33996

Donate    http://www.justgiving.com/1000-miles-1000-smiles-tandem-challenge

Call Dan      (+44) 07733101095

Find out more about MRF at http://www.meningitis.org/

Call MRF on their Freefone 24 hour helpline in the UK on 080 8800 3344

Find us on facebook to keep up to date with the journey                                             http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Thousand-Miles-For-A-Thousand-Smiles/108745042522637 or join our group          mailto:1000miles1000smiles@groups.facebook.com

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