Ladies Circle

Ladies Circle National president, Niki Stocken has chosen the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) as her charity for this year.� Niki wishes to raise awareness as well as money over the next year.

Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that there are around 3,500 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK and Republic of Ireland.� This means that every day nine people become ill with the diseases.� With one in ten people dying, a death will occur almost every day. A further two people will be left with life-altering after effects as severe as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations.

Meningitis vaccines offer excellent protection, but they are not yet available for all forms. So it's vital to know meningitis symptoms and what to do if you suspect someone has meningitis or septicaemia.

Meningitis and septicaemia are very dangerous and can kill in hours.

Meningitis means swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same germs. Meningitis and septicaemia can occur together or separately.�

People who are faced with meningitis and septicaemia have to act fast to save a life - a race against time.� Meningitis and septicaemia can be hard to recognise at first. Symptoms can appear in any order, but the first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell, just like in many mild illnesses.

The 'red flag' symptoms often appear earlier than meningitis symptoms like neck stiffness and dislike of light, and before the more serious symptoms.

Meningitis Research Foundation is a registered charity established in 1989. With over 15,000 individual members and supporters with personal experience of meningitis.� Their vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia.

They aim to achieve this by funding research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes.

They also promote education and awareness to reduce death and disability, and give support to people affected. Meningitis and septicaemia, MRF is working towards a world free from meningitis and septicaemia.

Meningitis Research Foundation funds research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes. The Foundation promotes education and awareness to reduce death and disability, and gives support to people affected.

If your Circle are able to help in distributing awareness information please contact Iain Elliott at MRF.

Circle will also be collecting old mobile phones for them to recycle so whatever the age or state let Niki have them and it could be an easy �5 for MRF .