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Robot Dad and the search for a vaccine
• I WAS interested to read your article (‘When I woke up I had no legs.’ The plight of patient who thought he had gone down with flu, March 27).
Father-of-two Ergun Ahmed has learnt to walk again after having his legs amputated after being struck down with meningococcal septicaemia.
It is heartening to hear that Ergun battled through the illness and depression and has now learnt to walk on prosthetic legs; and that he says the situation has brought the family closer together and that his children now affectionately call him “Robot Dad”.
Here at Meningitis UK we sadly know only too well how devastating the disease can be and how quickly it can take hold. Our charity has a single focus – to find a vaccine to eradicate meningitis.
Great advances have been made in the fight against the disease over the past 20 years and we are now closer than we have ever been before to achieving our vision and putting a stop to the devastation that meningitis causes.
Last year we launched our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which signals the start of a major phase in the search for a vaccine for meningococcal group B – the most common form of meningitis for which there is no vaccine.
The aim of the campaign is to raise £7 million to fund the research needed to reach that goal.
In the absence of a vaccine, we also distribute a wide range of material to raise awareness of the common symptoms and the need to act quickly, which can mean the difference between life and death.
If any readers would like a symptoms information pack, including wallet-sized symptoms cards, or to support our Search for a Vaccine, please call Meningitis UK on 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org
Nicola Clarke
Meningitis UK
25 Cleeve Wood Road
Downend
Bristol
BS16 2SF
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