Another amazing Pushing the Boundaries day for meningitis survivors

Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) would like to thank everyone who attended the ‘Pushing the Boundaries – Life after Limb Loss’ day on Friday 26 October in Nottingham.

MRF runs this annual family event for children who have lost limbs due to meningitis and septicaemia. It is designed to be fun, supportive and informative.

It is held in a different location each year and around 90 people travelled from across the country to Nottingham for the 2018 event.

Children with amputations, alongside their siblings, got involved in a range of sporting activities with specialist coaches, including coaches from Team GB Wheelchair Rugby. Parents listened to talks from experts and clinicians specialising in rehabilitation medicine.

Athlete, Richard Whitehead MBE from Nottingham who runs with prosthetic legs, gave an inspirational talk and had his photo taken with families there.

Bacterial meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases that can strike without warning. One in ten people affected will die and a third of survivors will be left with after-effects, some as serious as brain damage, amputations, or hearing loss.

Rob Dawson, Director of Support at Meningitis Research Foundation said, “Most families affected by meningitis won’t know another family who has been through it. That’s why these events can be a lifeline to families as they get the chance to meet other people who understand what they’ve been through and the daily struggles they may face. They also get to have their questions answered by experts.

“The sports coaches were incredible, making sure children with all levels of disability felt they could get involved. It helped show young people that they can push the boundaries of what’s expected and help them reach achievements they didn’t think were possible.”