Tuesday 13 March saw celebrities (and Meningitis Now representatives!) gather at Grosvenor House in Park Lane, London, for the 2018 TRIC (Television, Radio and Industries Club) awards
Each year TRIC holds a star-studded awards ceremony to celebrate achievements across TV and radio; with celebrities from soaps, dramas, reality TV and radio presenters attending the event.
So, why were Meningitis Now CEO Tom, and Major Gifts manager Sheena, rubbing shoulders with the stars? This was all thanks to our lovely celebrity ambassador Lisa Snowdon.
Lisa has assumed the position of TRIC president for 2017-2019, and has wasted no time in using her new position to help promote the work of Meningitis Now. During her speech at the awards ceremony, Lisa talked about her devastating and frightening experience of meningitis, after she contracted the viral form of the disease in 2010.
Talking about her experience previously, Lisa said: “In October 2010, I woke up one morning and had the most excruciating head pain I’ve ever had. This carried on for the next three weeks before I saw a doctor. It sounds crazy now, but it didn’t occur to me to go earlier as I was just trying to cope with the pain. When I was doing my breakfast show, I’d get exhausted and suffer aches, pains and headaches. I was also losing my appetite. I kept asking them to turn the lights down in the studio as it was making my eyes hurt. Light sensitivity is a symptom of viral meningitis, but I didn’t realise it at the time".
Since recovering, Lisa has been actively working with Meningitis Now to raise awareness of the disease, and funds to help us continue the vital work that we do - raising an amazing £13,000 herself by abseiling down St Guy’s hospital in London!
Other Meningitis now ambassador’s Dr Ranj and Dr Chris Steele, also attended the ceremony and won an award as part of the ‘This Morning’ team. A silent auction was held to raise money for Meningitis Now, and other chosen charities.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in the auction, as the money raised will help us to continue working towards our vision of; a future where no-one in the UK loses their life to meningitis, and everyone affected gets the support they need to rebuild their lives.
