It's World Meningitis Day

Today, 5th October is World Meningitis Day, a day very close to our hearts as the wonderful Meningitis Now have been our chosen charity partner for two decades. 

 

  

But why, Meningitis Now? Founders Caroline and Angus Gardner chose the charity, having had a personal experience with the illness when their then 6 months old son, Sebastian contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia. Thankfully he recovered and the family looked to help raise awareness and fundraise in the form of Caroline’s specially designed Christmas cards. 25p from each pack goes straight to the charity and so far, with your help, we've raised over £270,000.

Shop the cards here.

 

 

Join us tonight as we will be supporting World Meningitis Day and their theme this year of 'lighting the road ahead to defeating meningitis’. At 8.30pm light a candle, lantern, fairy lights, whatever you have to mark the occasion and honour those affected by meningitis.  Be sure to share your photos on socials and tag them in @meningitis_now

 

Meningitis Now is here to ensure no one needs to face meningitis alone. Their vision is simple - a future where no-one in the UK loses their life to meningitis and everyone affected gets the support they need to rebuild their lives.

Every year in the UK, 8,000 people contract either bacterial or viral meningitis. Around one in 10 who contract bacterial meningitis will die. Of those that survive, 30%-50% can be left with lifelong after-effects, such as hearing and sight loss, acquired brain injury, epilepsy, special educational needs, chronic pain and fatigue. Survivors often have limbs and digits amputated as a result of associated septicaemia.