It seems only yesterday that national swim school Turtle Tots were making a big splash for Meningitis Now.
But now they’re back for a sixth year of Splash Now this October, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
The amazing Turtle Tots swim schools across the UK will be taking part in a series of fun, water-based activities to help raise funds for Meningitis Now.
They’re aiming to raise £20,000 this year to add to the £112,000 they’ve already added to the coffers towards our lifesaving and life-changing work.
Key at-risk group
Babies and toddlers will be sponsored for their swimming by friends and family as they take part in a range of Splash Now activities, all whilst building their confidence in the water and raising awareness about meningitis.
As under-5s are a key at-risk group for contracting meningitis, the Splash Now campaign helps to inform parents about the risks of meningitis too and how to protect children against the disease. Thousands of our wallet-sized Signs and Symptoms cards will be handed out during the week.
In honour of Clara
Splash Now was created in honour of baby Clara, who died of meningitis when she was just 10 months old in 2010. Today Clara’s legacy lives on in all the children who take part in Splash Now each year.
Her Godmother April told us: “Clara initially had a temperature and a runny nose, which her parents thought was due to a new tooth. She began being sick and appeared very unwell so her family rushed her to the doctors, by which time she was looking vacant and flushed. Clara was initially misdiagnosed with gastroenteritis.
“Clara was admitted to York Hospital in case she was dehydrated and needed fluids, but Clara continued to be sick throughout the night and a blood test showed she had an infection.
Nothing more they could do
“A senior paediatrician later assessed Clara and said she had meningitis. After a CT scan, Clara was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary. Later that night a doctor confirmed to Clara’s parents, Claire and Stef, that there was nothing more they could do for Clara and that she was brain dead.
“Claire says that those words cut through her heart like a bolt of lightning.
“The hospital kept Clara on ventilators overnight whilst Claire held her. Claire prayed with the priest all night, asking for a miracle to allow Clara to have the life she so deserved and enjoyed.
“After a third opinion the following morning, and after watching her little body fight for 14 hours, Claire and Stef were given no option other than to hold her as tight as they could while her ventilator was taken away. Family and friends stood by helpless in the hospital room during what was the most devastating and heartbreaking of moments.
“After the ventilator was taken away Clara continued to fight in Claire’s arms until the very last heartbeat – the moment Claire wished hers would stop too.”
Worked closely together
April contacted the National Swimming Teacher’s Association, Turtle Tots and Meningitis Now. They all worked closely together to launch the national awareness and fundraising campaign ‘Splash Now’ in Clara’s memory in 2019 – the year Clara would have turned 10 years old. And it’s been growing ever since.
Recently Meningitis Now’s Trevor and Emma caught up with Caroline Sparks and Gaby Lixton and all the amazing teams from the Turtle Tots Swimming franchises to celebrate the start of the sixth year of Splash Now.
Caroline Sparks, co-founder of Turtle Tots said: “We have customers who have been directly affected by meningitis so understand first-hand the positive impact the charity makes. It’s important to us to raise awareness of the symptoms of meningitis amongst our community of franchisees, teachers, and parents.
“For Turtle Tots it’s important to support a charity and give something back to our communities.”
Show your support and cheer on the turtles taking part this year by making a donation.
