Polly and Felicity March’s story
Twins Polly and Felicity reflect on surviving meningitis as babies, and why they’re running the London Marathon for Meningitis Research Foundation.
We’re incredibly grateful that we have no real memories of that time, because we can only imagine the fear and anxiety such a diagnosis must have brought. Growing up, we always knew we had been seriously ill as babies, but it wasn’t something we spoke about much as a family. I think we assumed it wasn’t a big deal – it had happened so long ago, and we were lucky not to have any lasting effects. Surely everyone had moved on.
Whenever we did ask questions, our parents would often brush past it or not go into much detail. Again, we took that to mean it all belonged firmly in the past. It wasn’t until two decades later that we began to understand just how much our parents had been carrying all those years.
The neighbours who became our village
For our 21st birthday, our parents suggested inviting a few neighbours over for celebratory drinks. We thought it was a bit unusual – we didn’t normally celebrate birthdays that way – but we were happy to go along with it. The more the merrier.
That evening, our dad gathered everyone together and raised a glass – not to us, but to the neighbours who had stepped in and supported our family during that incredibly difficult time. In that moment, it really hit us: we might not have been there, celebrating that milestone at all, without them.
Running for those who supported us
We feel very humbled to be running the marathon for such an important cause. We know that many survivors of meningitis live with life-altering side effects and don’t have the privilege of taking on challenges like this. The fact we’re running it the same age as our father was when he ran it also feels like a notable moment of serendipity.
Ours isn’t a typical survivor’s story about overcoming illness. Instead, it’s a story of a mother’s intuition, a family doctor’s swift diagnosis, hospital staff working tirelessly around the clock, and a group of neighbours who became our village.
We feel incredibly proud to represent the Meningitis Research Foundation in the 2026 London Marathon – supporting the doctors on the front line of this disease and helping to raise awareness so that other parents might recognise the signs and act quickly if faced with the same situation.
See you at the finish line!
Polly and Felicity’s mum and dad, Sue and Philip, have shared their stories too.
Donate to Polly and Felicity’s London Marathon fundraiser.
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Related stories
Sue March’s story
Sue reflects back to March 1993 when her twin daughters became seriously ill with meningitis, leading to two weeks in hospital.
Philip March’s story
Philip shares his experience of the terrifying weeks when both of his twin daughters were diagnosed with meningitis.