Our team
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Chris Philipsborn
Chris is Executive Vice President and London Managing Partner at Kreab Worldwide, a strategic global communications agency.
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James Sutherland
James is the Chief Risk & Compliance Officer for DAS UK Group, having previously worked in governance roles across Higher Education and Financial Services.
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Samantha Blackie
Sam Blackie is an experienced Human Resources Director, with a specific focus on developing and implementing the strategic people agenda, leading complex change and working with a broad range of stakeholders.
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Rod Adlington
The Adlington family lost their son Barney to meningitis in 2005 and have fundraised since, mainly through "Barney's Bash", a series of farm-based, one night mini festivals.
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Emma Thomas
Emma is a chartered accountant and currently CFO of Parmenion, which is an investment management and platform business.
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Holly Byrne
Holly has a background in financial services and as a Trust Executive drafting legal documentation.
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Nikki Richardson
The combination of her background and direct experience of meningitis led Nikki to apply for the role of Trustee with Meningitis Now.
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Randy Weeks
Randy retired in 2017 as CEO of a medium sized international ad agency group, with offices in the UK, Germany, Russia and China.
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Stephen Sutcliffe
Stephen has worked in the NHS throughout his career, entering the finance graduate scheme from university and qualifying as an accountant.
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Dr. Tom Nutt
Hello, I'm Tom, Chief Executive Officer at Meningitis Now.
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Bev Corbett
Hi, I'm Bev, Director of Information and Support at Meningitis Now
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Trevor Reid
Hello! I'm Trevor Reid and I'm Director of Fundraising and Communications at Meningitis Now
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Dr Caroline Vipond
Caroline is a Senior Scientist in the Division of Bacteriology at NIBSC, where she runs the group responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of a number of licensed meningococcal vaccines. She is also the current Chairperson of our Scientific and Medical Advisory Panel
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Professor Simon Kroll
Simon has been involved with the work of Meningitis Now for many years, initially as Chairman of our Medical Research Panel before becoming our honorary Medical Director in 2009, and a Trustee in 2019.
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Dr Xilian Bai
Xilian graduated in medicine from China Medical University before specialising in paediatric/neonatal intensive care and paediatric infectious diseases. -
Professor David Dockrell
Professor David Dockrell is Professor of Infection Medicine in the Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh.
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Dr Darryl Hill
Darryl obtained a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Swansea in 1993 and graduated with a PhD in 1997. Following a postdoctoral position in the University of Swansea, he moved to the University of Bristol in 1998, where he currently works as a senior lecturer in microbiology in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. -
Professor Tim Mitchell
Tim obtained his BSc and PhD in microbiology from the University of Birmingham. He was awarded a Wellcome Trust Travelling Fellowship to work at Erasmus University (Rotterdam) before returning to the UK to take up a post-doctoral position at University of Leicester. He was then awarded a Royal Society University Fellowship. -
Dr Simon Nadel
Simon has been a Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at St. Mary's Hospital and Imperial College London since 1994. He also trained in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. -
Becky Hartwell
Hi, I'm Becky, Meningitis Now's Believe & Achieve Programme Co-ordinator
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Kiera
Hello, my name is Kiera. Before I was born, my brother Dominic contracted meningitis septicaemia at 4-years-old, shortly after he had won his battle with cancer.
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Matt W
Hi, I’m Matt. In August 2012 I became a Young Ambassador for Meningitis Now. The Young Ambassador’s role is to promote Meningitis Now to young people, and this is a huge challenge.
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Sophia B
Hi, my name is Sophia. I am from Chiswick in London. I have been involved with Meningitis Now for some time, supporting fundraising. -
Lyndon L
Hi I am Lyndon, and I live in Crook, County Durham. At the age of eight and a half months I discovered meningitis.
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Holly McNaughton
My Meningitis Story, Holly McNaughton, Community Ambassador
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Johari A
Hi, my name is Johari. I became a Young Ambassador for Meningitis Now in 2014.
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Jasmine B
Hi, I'm Jasmine. My experience of meningitis was in 2001 when I had pneumococcal meningitis and became profoundly deaf.
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Aaron B
Hi, I'm Aaron. I was only three years old when my six week old sister Lauren contracted bacterial meningitis.
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Ross P
Hi I’m Ross, and I live with my family and my brother, who has had meningitis. My brother, Troy, has suffered bacterial meningitis six times due to a head injury.
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Alicia S
Hi, I'm Alicia. I first became aware of meningitis when my sister contracted the disease when she was just two years old.
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Ross W
Hi, I'm Ross. In 1992, before I was born, I lost my 4-year-old brother Dominic to meningitis after he had recovered from cancer.
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Huw W
Hi, my name is Huw and I live in Porthcawl, South Wales. When I was three years old my mum contracted viral meningitis.
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Anne Cadden
Our daughter Helen died in January 2001, aged 18, from meningococcal septicaemia while in her first year at university.
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Lesley Chandler-Clare
I lost my husband, Kevin, to meningococcal septicaemia in January 2000, just five hours after being admitted to hospital. I have been supported by Meningitis Now ever since. -
Bahman Jamalaldini
In December 2010, I thought I was coming down with a cold. On December 21, I went to bed early and in the early hours of the morning I was vomiting, had diarrhoea, felt cold and had muscle and joint pain.
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Val Stephenson
I first made contact with Meningitis Now in 2000 when, at the age of two, our youngest daughter, Lydia, contracted meningococcal C and developed septicaemia.
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Alice Austin
In 2004, our daughter, Gillian, died from meningitis just days after the birth of her second child Grace, who also passed away.
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Vanessa Whiting
In 1992, my son Luke, died from meningitis aged 22 months. He initially had flu-like symptoms, but the doctor thought he’d had a convulsion, so he was referred to the local hospital.
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Margaret McLaren
I have been volunteering with the charity for the past 12 years since losing my nephew to meningitis in October 2007.
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Steph Carter
I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in January 2010 at the age of 32.
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Angela Cloke
My meningitis journey began when our youngest son, Sam, aged just 18 months became very poorly.
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Carl Montieth
My first involvement with meningitis occurred when I met Steve, Gloria and family on my honeymoon in Cyprus 27 years ago.
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Alison Walker
I first encountered meningitis in July 2003 when my eight month old daughter, Hannah, contracted pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia.
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Mary Garley
We lost our granddaughter, Maisie, in 2008, to meningitis; she was just eight months old. She was taken to hospital early in the morning of 15 October - she was sent home after being told it was just a virus.
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Andrew Harvey
Andrew Harvey is President of Meningitis Now. He presented BBC TV News for many years before moving to ITN and now has his own media training company. -
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh is our Royal Patron and is passionate about our work and helping people affected by meningitis.
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Lord Williams of Oystermouth Master of Magdalene
Lord Williams is an Anglican bishop and was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 until 2012. -
Lord Darzi
Lord Darzi is a multi-award winning surgeon at Imperial College London and was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health from 2007 to 2009.
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Dr Mark Porter MBE
Well known media doctor Dr Mark is medical correspondent at The Times, doctor on The One Show, presenter of Radio 4’s flagship medical series Inside Health and a GP at a doctor’s surgery in South Gloucestershire.
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Ken Loach
British film and television director Ken Loach is famous for films such as Cathy Come Home and Kes.
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Dr Chris Steele
Dr Chris is resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning show and an award winning health journalist. -
Baroness Corston
Long-standing British Labour politician Baroness Corston is famed for being the first woman to hold the position of Chair for the Parliamentary Labour Party.
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Jane Wells MBE
Jane is one of the founding members of the meningitis movement in the UK after her son contracted meningitis in an outbreak in the early 1980s. -
Dr Tim Brain OBE QPM BA PhD FRSA CCMI
Dr Brain started supporting our work after attending an event for us.
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Lisa Snowdon
Television presenter, jewellery designer, radio DJ and model Lisa co-hosts award-winning Capital Radio breakfast show, London’s number one breakfast show.
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Petra Ecclestone
Model, designer and mum of three, Petra is the daughter of Formula One mogul, Bernie Ecclestone, and became an Ambassador for us having had viral meningitis aged 14.
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Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie is an award-winning British actress, best known for her role as Hayley Cropper in ITV’s Coronation Street.
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Tana Ramsay
TV broadcaster, author of bestselling cookery books and mum of four, Tana is also the wife of celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay. -
Dr Ranj
TV doctor, specialising in children’s health, Dr Ranj is best known for presenting CBeebies' show Get Well Soon. He also has a kids' health segment on ITV’s This Morning show. -
Dr Ellie Cannon
Dr Ellie is a media doctor, author and practicing GP, best known best for her weekly health column in the Mail on Sunday and regular appearances on Sky News Sunrise.
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Dr Rob Hicks
Practicing GP, media doctor, health writer and medical journalist, Dr Rob regularly appears on BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC radio. -
Joanna Trollope OBE
British author of bestselling novels, a mother and grandmother, Joanna is a passionate supporter of our work. -
Ian Rush MBE
Former Welsh international footballer, famous for his time playing for Liverpool, Ian is now a football pundit. -
Denis Law CBE
A former Scotland footballer, Denis is famous for his time at Manchester United FC.
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Matthew Newbury
Matthew is a London-based property developer who, in 2011, was the first person in Britain to be fitted with a bionic leg.
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Alan Halsall
Entrepreneur and Chairman of luxury pram maker, Silver Cross, Alan has supported our work for many years through his Silver Cross business.
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Alex W
Alison’s eight year old son, Alex, contracted meningococcal septicaemia on her wedding day; within hours Alex had gone from feeling a little ill to being kept alive by a life support machine.
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Phil Hand
Phil is an entrepreneur.
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Nina
I personally have not had meningitis but both my dad (who had it as a child, but made a full recovery) and a very close friend of mine did.
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Rosie
Hi, I’m Rosie. I had bacterial meningitis when I was seven years old and my life is still impacted by the after-effects the disease left me with on a day-to-day basis
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Fiona Brannan
Fiona and her husband, Simon, lost their 16-month-old son Cy to meningitis in October 2007. Cy passed away just 24 hours after contracting the disease.
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Lesley Tanton
Lesley Tanton and her husband, John, lost their 14-year-old son, Mark, in September 2010. He had the Y strain of meningitis.
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Ian Stuart
Ian has over 35 years' experience in the banking industry and is currently HSBC’s Head of Commercial Banking UK and Co-Head of Commercial Banking Europe
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Jacob Gray
My name is Jacob. On 10 January 2013 I walked into hospital, where I remained a patient for the next 699 days; I had contracted meningococcal septicaemia.
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Lynette Adjei
'Meningitis' – I knew that word but it didn’t mean a lot. ‘Pneumo-what?’ The other word was definitely Double Dutch.
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Cliff and Jeanette Bull
When our grandson Charlie woke with a temperature and a rash, his mum Claire knew that something was seriously wrong and rushed him to Bezier Hospital.
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Jemma P
Hi, I’m Jemma. In August 2012 I got my A-Level results and found out I got into the University of Leicester to study law - I was looking forward to my new adventure.
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Steve Lawes
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Steve Lawes
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Phil Marshall
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Phil Marshall
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Tony Fortune
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Tony Fortune
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Nigel Gardner
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Nigel Gardner
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Cathy Hargreaves
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Cathy Hargreaves
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Jason Thomas
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Jason Thomas
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Jo Killick
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Jo Killick
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Richard Churchill
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Richard Churchill
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Nicola Hare
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Nicola Hare
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Huw Thomas
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Huw Thomas
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Ash Harris
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Ash Harris
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Geoff Howse
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Geoff Howse
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Craig Saunders
Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Craig Saunders
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Toby
Hello, I am Toby and I have witnessed what meningitis does to people and their families.
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Emma Moore
Emma Moore was 26 when she became a Meningitis Now Community Ambassador in 2015, after losing her son George to meningitis in October 2013 at just 10 months old.
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Hannah Pearce
My name is Hannah and I live just outside of Swansea with my husband Ashley.
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Alison Westwood
I developed viral meningitis in February 2003, when my children were just 1 and 3 years old.
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Louis
Hello everyone! I am Louis. 10 years and 15 days before my birth, my family was changed forever when we lost my uncle James. Despite my never having met my uncle, I have seen firsthand what losing someone to meningitis really does to a family.
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Julie Green
Hello, my name is Julie Green. In January 2012 my son Louie contracted meningococcal septicaemia at the age of 5 months old.
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Barbara and Bob Johnson
Hello, we are Barbara and Bob Johnson from Essex. We started supporting the charity in the days of the National Meningitis Trust after the death of our son James in May 1991 from Group 'B' meningitis and septicaemia.
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Charlotte H
Charlotte was a student when she had both legs amputated below the knee, along with all the fingers from her left hand, after contracting meningococcal group W (MenW) and septicaemia.
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Hannah Marsh
Hannah is a CIMA-qualified account and is currently in the role of Head of Finance at Plan International UK, a global charity focused on children's' rights and equality for girls.
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James Duff
James was a long-standing supporter and fundraiser for Meningitis Now before becoming a Community Ambassador in 2018
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Asha Vijendran
I’m Asha and I work as a Corporate Development Manager at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
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Caroline Frean
I’m Caroline and I'm a solicitor working for people who have been injured as a result of negligent medical treatment.
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Charlotte Moore
I’m Charlotte. I am a clinical / medical negligence lawyer who works with children and adults who have suffered life-changing injuries, as a result of failings in their medical treatment and care.
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Claire Packham
I am currently a Department Coordinator at Anthony Collins Solicitors and have been with the firm for over 10 years.
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Craig Ford
I am currently a solicitor working in the South West. I left school at 16, joined the Army and spent 23 years in the military medical services.
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David Baker
I am a father to three wonderful children - this the highlight of my life. I’ve always tried to do my best, I aim to help people and try and make their lives better.
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Ian Watkinson
I first came to know Meningitis Now following the death of my baby grandson, Charlie, from pneumococcal meningitis in 2010 and the wonderful support my family received from them at that terrible time.
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Jonathan Davies
I contracted a severe case of viral meningitis in 2002. I was leading an active life, training for my first open water sea triathlon, when viral meningitis struck.
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Julie Marsh
Julie Marsh is a Senior Associate Solicitor within the Clinical Negligence Team at Boyes Turner LLP, a regional law firm based in Reading.
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Laura Bland
Hi, my name is Laura and I am a solicitor. I act for people who have suffered an injury as a result of complications and issues with their medical treatment.
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Misa Ichinose
I've lived in Japan, the US and Hong Kong but for the last decade I've studied and worked in the U.K., and currently live in Essex with my partner.
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Sarah Huntbach
I am a solicitor and I represent clients and their families who have suffered life changing injuries, either because of a medical mishap/misdiagnosis, or caused by a road traffic or other type of accident.
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Sue Davie
I’m a qualified management accountant and MBA (Master of Business Administration). I worked for Fujitsu for 10 years after completing my BA (Hons) Business Studies.
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Callum Jones
My name is Callum and I have younger identical twin sisters. I decided to become a volunteer with Meningitis Now after one of my sisters had bacterial meningitis when she was 8
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Fiona Yelland
Hi, I’m Fiona. I had meningitis when I was 15, on 4 October 2011; it was just a normal school day. However, that was about to change.
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Freya Stealey
Hello, I am Freya. I had meningitis two years ago when I was 22
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Holly Loach
Hi, I’m Holly. I'm 19 years old and am currently studying English Literature at Bristol Uni
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Isa
Hi, I'm Isa and I've been volunteering with Meningitis Now for over 16 years, since my sister died of pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia when I was 5 years old.
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Katy Tyler
Hello, I'm Katy. Back in December 2013 we lost my brother's girlfriend Sarah to meningitis, aged just 19.
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Ollie Gray
Hi, I'm Ollie. I had meningitis when I was extremely young but it has affected me since
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Sophie C
Hello I’m Sophie. When I was 12 I contracted pneumococcal meningitis after suffering from a perforated eardrum.
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Conor
Hey, I'm Conor. I'm 19, and I've contracted meningitis 3 times in the last 8 years.
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Laura McQ
My name is Laura and I'm currently studying for an MA at the University of Leeds
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Lucy S
Hi, I'm Lucy. My cousin Emily died from meningitis when she was 19 years old
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Louise G
Hi, I’m Louise. I had meningitis when I was 2 and a half.
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Dr Mary Ramsay
Dr Mary Ramsay has been a Consultant Epidemiologist since 1994.
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Sarah Ramsay
Hi, I'm Sarah, Partnerships Team Manager at Meningitis Now.
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Mark Jefferies
Hi, I'm Mark, Senior Partnerships Fundraiser at Meningitis Now.
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Laura Williams
Hello, I'm Laura, one of Meningitis Now's Partnerships Fundraisers
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Harriet Pegler
Hello, I'm Harriet, one of Meningitis Now's Partnerships Fundraisers
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Megan Thompson
Hi, I'm Megan, Fundraising Manager at Meningitis Now.
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Leah Wynn
Hi, I'm Leah, Fundraising Officer at Meningitis Now.
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Joanne Wilson
Hiya! I'm Jo, Fundraising Officer at Meningitis Now
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Sophia Lanciano Newman
Hi! I'm Sophia, Fundraising Officer at Meningitis Now
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Kat Hollywell
Hi! I'm Kat, Fundraising Assistant at Meningitis Now.
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James Gilling
Hello! I'm James and I'm a Fundraising Assistant at Meningitis Now
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Cat D
I’m Cat, I’m 24 and I’m a total languages nerd
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Claire Donovan
Hello, I'm Claire, Helpline and Information Manager at Meningitis Now
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Caroline Lyons
Hello, I'm Caroline, Information and Assessment Nurse at Meningitis Now
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Gagan Taylor
Hello, I'm Gagan, Meningitis Now's Senior Community Support Officer covering the South East, East Midlands and East Anglia
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Christine Mather
Hi, I'm Chris, Meningitis Now's Community Support Officer covering the North of England.
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Alison Yelland
Hello, I'm Alison, Meningitis Now's Community Support Officer covering Scotland and Northern Ireland
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Dawn McNiff
Hi, I'm Dawn, Meningitis Now's Community Support Officer covering the West Midlands, South West and South Wales
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Suzanne Monaghan
Hello, I'm Suzanne, Support Services Assistant at Meningitis Now
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Graeme Burridge
On 7 October 2016, my 23-year-old daughter Katherine came home from work feeling unwell.
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Andy Hopkinson
Hello, I'm Andy, Communications and Press Officer at Meningitis Now
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David Clifford
Hi, I'm David, Digital Marketing Manager at Meningitis Now
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Jules Braithwaite
Hi, I'm Julie (Jules), Senior Designer at Meningitis Now
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Julie Griffin
Hello. I'm Julie, Supporter Care Manager at Meningitis Now
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Paula Atkinson
Hello, I'm Paula, Supporter Care Administrator at Meningitis Now
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Kyra McDonnell
Hi! I'm Kyra, Supporter Care Administrator at Meningitis Now
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Lisa Ellis
Hi! I'm Lisa, Supporter Care Administrator at Meningitis Now
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Laura Smith
Hello! I'm Laura, HR Officer at Meningitis Now
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Isobel Black
Hello, I'm Isobel, Volunteer Manager at Meningitis Now
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Seema Jaswal
Sports presenter Seema, who presents the Premier League global football coverage, BBC World Snooker Championship and various football coverage for ITV, contracted bacterial meningitis when she was 16 years old.
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Ed Cook
Hi, my name is Ed and I had bacterial pneumococcal meningitis in 2014 when I was 15.
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Heidi Secker
Hello, I'm Heidi, Digital Marketing & Design Officer at Meningitis Now