If you know me, you know I hate running… 

But when it gives me the opportunity to raise money for a charity close to my heart, I suppose I’ll get over it! Meningitis NOW is a charity which supports anyone who has been affected by meningitis - whether that’s a personal experience or not! Please help me raise money for those who haven’t been as fortunate as I have. It would mean the world to me and the #TeamTangerine family. 

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In September 2019 I contracted bacterial meningitis.

It turned 10pm the night before game day and my body all of a sudden felt really heavy. I had a few cold symptoms through the day so thought it was best to get some sleep. I went up to bed and tried to sleep, however my legs started feeling really agitated. A few hours later I was throwing up - something didn’t feel right. I rang my Dad who drove an hour and a half to pick me up. When he got to my house I had lost the ability to weight bare. I had to bump down the stairs into the car. The following day my Mum noticed a rash. She rang 111 for advice. They sent out an ambulance as I was still in a lot of pain. I was taken to Maidstone Hospital straight away - my heart rate was triple my normal rate, and my legs were throbbing. 

When I got to hospital, I was tested for sepsis and my bloods were taken. I was given a private side room, where I stayed for 10 days on antibiotics and a drip. I couldn’t walk for a week - which for a young, fit rugby player was very hard to accept. I hit a wall mentally on day 3. I cried my eyes out when I was told I had meningitis. My Mum and Dad came to visit me every single day - they were incredible! After a week, I started to feel slightly better. I started saying I was bored to the nurses, and all of them said that was a sign of getting better. Day 10 I was released and had “Hospital at Home” for 2 days. It was so nice to have a bath and sleep in my own bed. 2 months and a lot of tears, anxiety and training later, I am hoping to take to the rugby pitch again! 

My road to recovery was short in the grand scheme of things, but it  felt like a life time! After a week of being out of hospital, I was allowed to do a 6 minute, extremely slow bike. I was shattered!! Now I am back into full training representing Harlequins in the Premier15s. I am very lucky that I acted the way I did when I started feeling ill. 

I feel incredibly lucky to be able to say I have come out of this experience feeling more motivated than ever. I have started working a lot harder than before and more focussed on what is important in life. My whole experience was a massive eye opener and I am so glad I am able to now share my story and help others.