Teens hold fundraiser after meningitis recovery
Two teenagers who became seriously ill with meningitis have been using the experience to help raise money for charity.
Freddy, 15, and Jack, 14, from Weymouth, Dorset, spent weeks in hospital after developing meningitis septicaemia.
Both have since recovered and recently organised a week of activities at their school, Budmouth Academy, to raise more than £2,000 for Meningitis Now.
The boys were among three students who contracted meningitis in Weymouth in March and April. The third was from Wey Academy.
Recalling the onset of his illness, Freddy said: "I just felt ill with a headache and just a bang-average cold but it ramped up very quickly from there.
"It wasn't just meningitis, I had sepsis as well - I had meningitis septicaemia.
"I was the first case, then Jack was the second case. I feel quite special in a way, but not in a good way."
Jack said: "It was quite worrying but the doctors we were with were very enthusiastic towards us.
"I was in [hospital] for around a week, then I was back in afterwards with other problems from the meningitis and sepsis."
After finding out that World Meningitis Day was on 5 October, the boys asked their head teacher if they could mark the event.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent's Breakfast show, Freddy said: "It was meant to be global meningitis day but it sort of turned into a week.
"On Monday we did a non-uniform day, and then Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday we had a tuck shop and we were selling raffle tickets for the Friday.
"On the Friday we did a massive draw in Clare Hall, which is Budmouth's big hall, and we had prizes from loads of different companies across Dorset and other friends and family and people that we know, so I want to thank everyone for gifting us all the prizes."
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the Weymouth cases, confirmed between 20 March and 15 April, were not linked to a deadly outbreak in Kent in which two people died and more than 20 were taken ill.
All pupils in years 7 to 13 in Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell were offered antibiotics and the MenB vaccination.
