Student fundraising challenges
Students have been supporting Meningitis Research Foundation for over 30 years. From raising awareness of the disease on campus to taking on life-changing treks across the world, you’ve been instrumental in the progress we’ve made towards defeating meningitis.
Our travel partner for student treks is Choose a Challenge. We work with them to send hundreds of students every year to complete challenges such as Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp.
Our 2026 student treks
Our travel partner for student treks is Choose a Challenge. We work with them to send hundreds of students every year to complete challenges such as Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp.
The trip was amazing, better than I could've ever asked for. We made great friends and great memories. I was still gaining donations while on the trip and surpassed my donation goal. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and the whole experience was so great for me. It's for a brilliant cause so thank you and your team for what you're doing.Euan Beale, 2025
Become a Challenge Leader in 2027
A Challenge Leader is a student who helps recruit and organise a team on campus to collectively fundraise and travel on an amazing bucket list adventure for the summer of 2027, all in support of defeating meningitis. In return, you'll gain personal development, new networks and friends, CV bragging rights and discounts on your own trip.
The symptoms of meningitis
Students are the second-most at-risk group of developing meningitis, after babies and toddlers. This is because the bacteria which causes meningitis is much more common in student populations. It’s found in 1 in 10 people among the general population, and 1 in 4 students.
Meningitis can kill in hours, and it can sometimes present like fresher’s flu or a hangover.
Know the symptoms
Meningitis can kill in hours, and it can sometimes present like fresher’s flu or a hangover.
Shirali's story
Shirali Patel was a student at University when she contracted MenW.
She studied medicine but even she did not know that her illness was about to become so life threatening. Please watch her story.
She studied medicine but even she did not know that her illness was about to become so life threatening. Please watch her story.
MenACWY vaccine
Meningococcal group W (MenW) is a particularly virulent strain of bacterial meningitis which is on the rise in the UK and Ireland. Find out more about the vaccine offered to teenagers, who are at higher risk of contracting MenW than other age groups.
About the vaccine
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Downloadable materials
The students we’ve worked with have gone above and beyond in their fundraising. To explore the sort of fundraising activities they got up to, please have a look at our free downloads.
Student fundraising materials
Your Meningitis Research Foundation student team
We’re Lily and Kirsty, your student fundraising team. If you’ve got a question about your fundraising, your trek or want to find out more about what we do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can give us a call on 0333 405 6274, or pop us an email.
Email us
You can give us a call on 0333 405 6274, or pop us an email.
Join the fight to defeat meningitis
Contact us to get involved!