Michael said: “My daughter Perrie contracted meningitis when she was only one week old. On 14th November she became floppy and sleepy and had a very high temperature. My wife, Lisa, and I were concerned so we brought her to Tallaght hospital where she was tested for meningitis straight away and the results came back positive. Perrie was kept in for 4 days but thankfully she recovered well, without any after effects however I know many others aren’t so fortunate. My wife’s three year old nephew, Adam, contracted pneumococcal meningitis in 2008, resulting in hearing loss and now wears a cochlear implant as a result so we are well aware of the impact that this disease can have.
It was a very scary time for me and my wife and so I have decided to run my first half marathon for Meningitis Research Foundation because I want to raise much needed funds and awareness of the disease that kills around 1,000 people around the world every day and leaves many more disabled.”
Monika Marchlewicz, Ireland Manager of Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “We are extremely grateful to Michael for running this marathon on our behalf. As he is aware meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases which can strike without warning, sometimes killing in hours, and leaving survivors with life-changing after effects. We rely on voluntary donations to fund our vital work into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia and support those affected, so every euro he raises from running this race will make a difference to the charity.”
You can sponsor Michael at https://www.idonate.ie/Rockandrollmarathon.
If you would like to run for the charity, or have any other fundraising ideas, please call our Dublin office on 01 819 6931 or visit: http://www.meningitis.org/get-involved.