RUNNER Aimee Frew, from Melksham, has set herself the tough challenge of running 200 miles in aid of international charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).
Aimee will be running 200 miles over the course of 10 months to raise awareness of the disease she survived in 1991, at the age of five.
Aimee is competing in 18 races, which are composed of 10 half marathons, seven 10ks and one full marathon, starting with the Swansea Half Marathon on 14th June, and finishing with the London Marathon on 24th April 2016. She is hoping to raise £2,500 by the time she completes her 200 miles.
Aimee said, “I can remember waking up in the night really wobbly and hot, and zigzagging my way across the hall to the bathroom where I tried to sit on the toilet, missed and fell flat on the floor instead!
“I remember my mum taking me to the doctors and getting an injection in my bottom (which I was very annoyed about as it hurt!) and being taken by ambulance to hospital.
“I don’t really recall much after that until I got a lot better, and I used to hear the nurses talking about me while they thought I was asleep. I also remember my dad sitting next to me on a little chair for hours on end making little Plasticine models. I am very lucky to have survived with no side effects.
“I want to run these miles for MRF to raise awareness, support and hopefully some money for such a wonderful charity, and one that is so close to my heart. Not everyone who has meningitis is as lucky as me, so I’m doing it for them in the hope that one day there will be no more meningitis.”
If you wish to sponsor Aimee you can visit her JustGiving page at: www.justgiving.com/Aimee-Frew2
Chris Head, chief executive at Meningitis Research Foundation said, “We are extremely grateful to Aimee for running 200 miles on our behalf. As she is aware, meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases which can strike without warning, killing in hours.
“We rely on voluntary donations to fund our vital work into the prevention, detection and treatment of the diseases and support those affected, so every penny she raises by running will make a huge difference to the charity.”
If you would like to run for MRF in 2015, or for any other fundraising ideas, please call the fundraising team on 01454 281814 or visit: www.meningitis.org/get-involved
For information on the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, you can call the Freefone helpline on 080 8800 3344, visit www.meningitis.org or download the free app from I-tunes – ‘Meningitis – Know the Symptoms’.
