Naomi’s friends walk for Meningitis charity
Margaret and Chelsea Smyth from Ardglass are taking part in the 8 mile walk at Belfast City Marathon on 1st May to help raise much needed funds for Meningitis Research Foundation.
Margaret’s dear friend, Naomi Bailie, contracted the deadly illness before Christmas.
Naomi, a Sinn Fein councillor on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, is based in Downpatrick. She endured a very difficult time then, and in the following months, which has obviously also been very challenging for her friends and family.
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Naomi is now working through her recovery phase, and trying to rebuild her life with husband Gerard and year old daughter, Niadh.
Margaret and Chelsea are asking for support to help them reach their target of £1000. Their Just Giving page is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Margaret-Smyth
They also ask that you keep Naomi and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Johnny Breen, Community Fundraiser for the charity in Belfast commented, “We very much appreciate the effort Margaret and Chelsea are making for MRF. Our charity relies almost entirely on voluntary donations, and 92p in every £1 raised is directly used for our research and support work.
“We are hoping for the very best for Naomi and her family, and our services are readily available to all sufferers from meningitis and septicaemia,” he added.
Meningitis is essentially an inflammation around the brain and spinal cord. Septicaemia is the blood poisoning version of the disease.
There are around 3400 cases of meningitis and septicaemia every year in UK and Ireland. Approximately 10% of cases are fatal. Of survivors, around 30% will be left with life changing after effects, including limb amputations, brain damage, organ failure, arthritis, and deafness and blindness.
Meningitis Research Foundation funds pioneering medical research, promotes symptom awareness with health professionals and the public, and offers free 1-2-1 support to those affected, as well as their friends and family. It has its Irish offices in Dublin and Belfast.
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More information on the illnesses and work of the charity are available on www.meningitis.org
Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=60280
Posted by Newry Times News
on Apr 29 2017. Filed under Community.
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