Meet our ambassadors

Catherine Aithal

"In 2001, my nephew died from pneumococcal meningitis when he was just 3 years old. I then started doing crazy fundraising things for MRF (jumping out of planes, long cycle rides, running the London Marathon) and when they started the ambassadors’ scheme I was excited to join in. My aim is, by raising awareness, to try and stop any other family going through the heart break we have had to endure.

"The most rewarding thing for me is when every time I do a speech or talk at a school about my experiences. I have people say to me how much more knowledgable about the disease and symptoms they are now, or they go and have their kids vaccinated. That's when I feel as though I’ve made a difference

"I have learned the amazing resilience of people who have suffered the loss of their loved ones or their loved ones have suffered life changing consequences after contracting meningitis. Quite simply, I have been blown away by the love, care and passion they have for making a difference, for being part of MRF and doing so much to try to ensure other families don’t suffer in the same way they have.

"Being an ambassador is an incredibly fulfilling role. I have been able to do it whilst jugging the arrival of 3 children and working full time. MRF are not a pushy charity, rather they allow you to fulfil as little or as much of the role as you wish. They are always there to help you and support you in whatever you decide to do, be that an awareness talk, fundraising or talking to the press."

Catherine lives in Oxfordshire.

Sarah Bailey

"I became an ambassador to help raise awareness amongst our local community.

"The highlight of this program has been visiting the Houses of Parliament in 2012 to meet with our MPs to campaign for the MenB vaccine.

"Me and my family think it that being an ambassador is a very valuable support role for others, as well as helping to raise awareness.

"People can read the story of my daughter, Ella (pictured), in the Book of Expereince. Treatment is still ongoing 19 years later."

Sarah lives in South Gloucestershire.

Amy Jenkins

"I decided to become an ambassador after MRF had supported me and my family through all the tough times after I had meningitis in 2011. The help and support they provided me with was invaluable and made such a difference that I wanted to give that to others going through what I did.

"The most rewarding part for me was being a befriender. Being able to talk to someone who is in the early stages after meningitis was amazing. I hope I provided them with some tips with prosthetics and also showed them that life does go on after meningitis and limb loss.

"I think the main thing that surprised me was meeting some amazing children at the Pushing the Boundaries day and seeing how well they have adapted after meningitis. It was truly inspiring!

"I would absolutely recommend anyone to become an ambassador. The team at MRF are so supportive and you get to meet some inspirational people, and educate others on meningitis."

Amy lives in Fleet, Hampshire.

Sue Fishburn

"I decided to become an ambasssador because of all the support I’d had when my son Ben had menB at the age of 23. Shirley from MRF kept in touch with questionnaire afterwards and she and Laurie asked me if I’d consider being an ambassador, the rest is history!

"The most rewarding part has been meeting other people who have been through the very same thing. The empathy and friendship is incredible, even though the outcomes can be very different. Sharing experiences and hopefully helping each other out. I’ve done fundraising, symptom awareness talks and attended others’ fundraising events as an ambassador. I’ve done The Great North Run twice and Ben has done it 3 times for MRF.

"At first, I was surprised at the wide age range of people affected. I must confess, like so many others I thought it affected children and student ages only. Ben had just left uni so I classed him in the student category, especially as he had been on a reunion weekend with student friends when he took poorly.

"I recommend becoming an ambassador to any one who wants to share knowledge and to listen to other's stories. It does help.

"Ben had just got engaged to his girlfriend Sarah at the time. He was a post grad doing his ACA. He was in coma for 11 days, hospital for a further 3 weeks and 6 months in occ and physiology therapy. The ilness resulted in deafness in one ear. However, Ben and Sarah married a year later and Ben qualified as a chartered accountant. They now live in North Carolina with their 6 children, aged 12 to 18 months.

"Sam, their eldest, has done a presentation at his school to his class on meningitis and symptom awareness followed up using our supplies that I sent out to him. He knew his dad had had MenB but did the project research of his own accord. The message goes worldwide in small steps by young voices. I still choke back tears thinking how close we came to loosing Ben and then looking at what he has achieved in the last 17 years."

Sue lives in Darlington in County Durham.

Melinda Lancaster

"It had been very important to us from the beginning of Amelia's illness to help in any way we could to raise awareness about meningitis.

"From letting student doctors be allowed to observe her treatment, to allowing photos to be taken pre and post op for many of the treatments she has endured or by telling our story to anyone who was willing to listen.

"One of the most rewarding things about being an Ambassador has been the amazing friends and support network we have made through the charity. It has helped us feel less alone and it feels great to know all the interviews and pushing for the menB vaccine to become routine was worth it in the end. We had a voice and we all made a difference together.

"One of the most surprising things to me was learning how many different after effects there can be and how each and every case is so different and nothing is ever straight forward when it comes to the disease. Amelia first took ill 8 years ago and we're still learning new effects it has had on her body and trying to correct other issues it has caused. It feels like a gift that keeps giving but not one you want.

"I would definitely recommend it to others it's has been an amazing experience over the years and I love the MRF family."

Melinda lives in North Yorkshire.

Helen Lever

"I suffered from meningitis at the age of 16 and so I wanted to give back to MRF, who helped me and my family during and after this difficult time. I also wanted to help spread awareness of the symptoms in order for others to be able to spot the signs of the illness at an early stage, which is crucial in order to survive it.

"The highlight of being an ambassador has been running the London Marathon for MRF.

"After becoming an ambassador, I was most surprised by the cost of meningitis for the government, which I found out about thanks to the MRF's 'Counting the Costs' campaign.

"I would recommend becoming an ambassador, so long as you are passionate about the cause. It would also be helpful if you had some sort of link with the illness, as having a personal story makes a difference to many parts of the role and is helpful for motivation."

Helen lives in Oxford.

Sam Patterson

"I became an ambassador following the death of my son, Alex, in 2015. He was 11 months old.

"The most rewarding thing about being an ambassador is speaking to individuals and teaching them something new about the symptoms or vaccinations that are available - when they leave you saying that they are going to spread the word or get their children vaccinated then that is what really makes a difference.

"I have been part of many events as an ambassador - tv and radio interviews, fundraising activities, awareness events - and I am continually taken aback by the number of people who approach me to tell me their own meningitis story. It really does affect far more people than you think.

 "I would really recommend becoming an ambassador. It is a great community of people who have a variety of experiences, but who are all passionate about the same thing. It makes for a very inspiring group!"

Sam lives in Cambridge with her husband and other two boys, Callum (6) and Leo (2). She runs a Beaver Colony and loves Triathlons. She did Challenge Denmark (half Ironman) to fundraise in memory of Alex.

Dianne Spalding

"I became an aqmbassador after the sudden death of my husband John in December 2014.

"John was a GP and first became ill at 3am on the 23rd of December with a temperature. He continued having little more than a temperature and feeling mildly sick until he woke at 1pm the next day. I went up into the bedroom to see him and immediately exclaimed to call an ambulance. He continued to deteriorate rapidly until he eventually died. His cause of death was of MenW, which attacks all age groups and is vicious.

"I have since learnt a lot about meningitis through MRF and I can score 10/10 on recognising all the symptoms. However, I do realise, that John did not present all the alerting symptoms, that would make you consider meningitis straight away. He was an experienced GP and I was a physiotherapist, but even so, I’m not sure that I would recognise it if it had happened to me again.

"MRF have been very supportive to myself and our 3 boys and they have helped me to learn and understand more about the disease. I decided to become an ambassador to increase awareness and encourage people at risk to get vaccinated, as I believe this is the best way forward. John, a passionate doctor, would want me to do this if it could possibly save other families from going  through our experience.

"I have found that going to schools and universities to encourage the uptake of the MenACYW vaccine very rewarding. I am now involved in the research project, 'B on the Team'. Anything that can be done to make people aware of meningitis and the vaccination programme is vital.

"As an ambassador, I have met several survivors of meningitis and I am in awe of their strength and resilience. Also, I have met other families who have lost a loved one to meningitis and they are passionate about trying to prevent unnecessary deaths or disabilities through the disease.

"Being an ambassador allows you to meet others with similar experiences and see how positive they are. It also allows you to become an engaged and useful member of society at a time in your life when you wanted to hide away."

Dianne lives in Worcester.

Gina Weston

"The loss of two of my sons to meningitis, Joe aged 8 weeks and Ryan aged 19 years was the reason for throwing myself into fundraising for the Foundation. I felt that in memory of my boys I needed to raise awareness of this dreadful disease.

"Together with friends and family, we have raised over £127,000 so far and will continue to do so in memory of all those affected by meningitis.

"The most rewarding aspect of being an ambassador is to represent the Foundation at fundraising events, to give general support as well as awareness talks and to gratefully accept any donations.

"I would recommend this program to anyone who can give up a bit of their free time to occasionally be part of a great team all striving for the same cause.

"To see the MenB vaccine become approved was an incredibly emotional time for me and my family. Sadly, it was too late for Ryan and it is still not freely available to all ages. That would be my wish if I was granted one, so that's why awareness is so important to me."

Gina lives in Norfolk.