On 8th September I will be running the Great North Run in aid of Meningitis Now.

This is my first half marathon and a big personal challenge, hopefully made worthwhile by raising awareness and money for this special charity.

Meningitis Now is a charity close to our hearts as my brother, Ted, was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis in the Summer of 2018. He spent five days in ITU in an induced coma - during this time, it was unknown whether he would survive or be left with life-changing disabilities. This disease can result in; loss of limbs, blindness, hearing-loss, brain damage, and 1 in 4 adults lose their lives to meningococcal meningitis. Fortunately Ted has since made a full recovery, an outcome that we feel incredibly lucky for as we are aware that many families are devastated by this terrible disease. It was a terrifying time for myself and my family and I'm proud to be supporting a charity which does such amazing work for those affected by meningitis.

Please make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations, although note that they may not cover all strains of meningitis (including MenB that Ted had), so it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms as a quick response is critical to the outcome of this disease. Go to the Meningitis Now website to find information about vaccinations, symptoms and more.

Any donations would be hugely appreciated xx