Jack's Tough Mudder in memory of Lewis

Jack Davis, a 22-year-old student currently studying in Manchester, is taking on the gruelling challenge and will be raising funds for our ongoing work to defeat meningitis in a generation as a tribute to his friend Lewis Hilton. 

Lewis was just 19 when he passed away from meningitis in January 2018. He went from having flu-like symptoms on the Thursday to being kept alive on life support by the Sunday morning. 

Helped six families

The story didn’t end there though, as through organ donation, the “kind, caring and loving” young man helped six other families hopefully not go through the loss his own family suffered.

Lewis’s mum Tracy said: “Lewis has helped six people and their families to hopefully not have to go through the loss that we have suffered and will suffer every day for the rest of our lives. Morley (Lewis’s dad) says that this must have been Lewis’s purpose, as he was such a kind, caring and loving person who touched so many people’s lives. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, kindness and support from everyone, friends, family, Old Rishworthian’s rugby club since losing Lewis. To date nearly £40,000 has been raised for Meningitis Now through Lewis’s Forever Fund by all these wonderful people. We will continue to help to raise awareness in Lewis’s name."

You can read Lewis’s story here.

Help fund research

Jack told us: “I’ve chosen to support Meningitis Now to help to fund research for this horrible disease and to make sure anybody affected gets the support they need from the charity. I know from my own experience this charity really does everything it can, not only for the person directly affected by meningitis, but also their close friends and family. 

“No one should have to lose a close friend, especially in such a sudden time frame like what happened with Lewis”.

The 10-mile Tough Mudder, at Broughton Hall, Skipton, takes place on Saturday 31 July and Jack is looking forward to the experience. 

“This will be a real challenge and test my strength, stamina and determination,” he said, “but I’m training hard and with the support of the other runners I’m sure I’ll finish this course with a good time and I’ll be displaying Lewis’s face on a t-shirt when I do so.”

You can support Jack’s efforts on his fundraising page here.