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£1.5 million donation from Dyson to Meningitis Research Foundation

11 June 2002

Meningitis Research Foundation has received a magnificent donation of £1.5 million from Dyson - the largest single donation the Charity has ever received.

This contribution to the vital work of the Charity was raised through a campaign involving sales of a limited edition upright and cylinder vacuum cleaner range in magenta and purple. The campaign was originally targeted to raise £1 million, but with the support of Dyson's national retailers and over 100,000 of their customers, as well as monies raised at organised fundraising days at venues across the UK, it has exceeded this target by over £500,000.

The donation will be used to help fund the Foundation's vital scientific research programme into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia and raise awareness of these diseases.

Howard Bell, Chairman of the Trustees of Meningitis Research Foundation, commented: "It is great to work with Dyson, who understand how vital research is. Meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form of the disease, continue to seriously affect the lives of our babies, children and young people, and we must redouble our efforts to eradicate them. Dyson's donation will help us to continue our fight and to take a step closer to achieving our vision of a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. We are extremely grateful to everyone who helped to make this campaign so successful."

What progress is being made?

Since it was founded in 1989, the charity has awarded 122 research grants, leading to many advances in the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The total value of the Foundation's investment in vital scientific research is nearly £13.5/€19 million.

 

Find out more about our programme of research.