The Big 4

Football legend and patron of Meningitis UK Denis Law along with members of the charity Meningitis UK will be visiting the Royal Hallamshire Hospital on Friday 11th July to launch Meningitis UK’s Big 4 Walk this autumn. 

The walk, aims to raise vital funds for meningitis research and highlight the crucial four hours between onset of symptoms and treatment. It is scheduled to tour England in a number four shape from Southampton to Oxford, onto Sheffield then Bristol, finishing at Imperial College London. The walk will be stopping off at major meningitis research centres funded by Meningitis UK.

Professor Robert Read, Consultant in Infectious Diseases from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and the University of Sheffield along with Dr Cariad Evans form part of an important research team in Sheffield looking at the development of vaccines for bacterial meningococcal meningitis.

Cariad said;

“Here in Sheffield we are involved in an important research project to look at the development of immunity against meningococcal meningitis, which if proved successful, could save thousands of lives every year. The aim of the research is to inoculate individuals with live Neisseria lactamica, a friendly harmless bacterium, related to Neisseria meningitidis, the cause of meningococcal septicaemia and meningitis. The theory is that when our immune system comes into contact with Neisseria lactamica it creates an immune response which also cross protects against Neisseria meningitidis. We are currently at a crucial stage in our work which is showing very encouraging results for the future. Meningitis UK is funding this research and we are very grateful for their support and to be given the opportunity to perform this novel research”.

Both Prof Read and Cariad will be shedding their white coats and donning their walking shoes to show support for the campaign. Last year Meningitis UK launched its Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK. This accounts for almost 90 per cent of all cases in the UK and there is still no vaccine.

Anyone can join the walk at any time and walk for any distance. On Saturday, October 11 the walk travels 24 miles from Holmesfield via the University of Sheffield to Baslow.

Meningitis UK’s Chief Executive Steve Dayman, who lost his son Spencer to meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in 1982, will be walking the whole route and said:

“Last year’s autumn walk raised a staggering £60,000 and this year we are determined to beat that.

“People can walk for as little or as long as they want, starting and finishing anywhere along the route. Their support will enable us to make a significant contribution to vaccine development, so please come and join us for any stage of this journey.”

If you would like to take part in Meningitis UK’s 2008 Big 4 Walk, please phone 0117 373 73 73 or visit www.meningitisuk.org

 


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