Meningitis survivor to hold family fun event to raise funds and awareness

Local meningitis survivor Jenni-Lea Monks is holding a family fun event on Saturday 20 July in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

Jenni-Lea, from Rochdale, spent time in hospital last year with meningitis.

She said: “It was viral meningitis so it wasn’t the worse kind but it was still bad. I was diagnosed on the 20 June 2013. After having bad headaches for two weeks and seeing the doctor three times, I was rushed to hospital after feeling very weak and sensitive to light.

“I was put on drips, given a lumbar puncture and kept in hospital for nearly two weeks. Luckily I am okay now and have no side effects or lasting damage.”

The event will be held at Kirkholt Working Men’s Club between 12.00pm and 6.00pm and will include a raffle, entertainment, singers, DJs and fairground rides.

Jenni-Lea added: “The foundation rely on donations and don’t get paid for anything so it is about raising them some money as well as raising awareness.”

Jenni-Lea has raised funds for the charity before. Her and her husband Ricky raised £200 by completing the Greater Manchester Run.

Now Jenni-Lea hopes to raise a further £500 from this event. She added: “I think that is a realistic target to set.”

Christopher Head, Chief Executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation said: “We are extremely grateful to Jenni-Lea for taking the time to organise a family fun day in aid of MRF. She knows better than anyone how quickly meningitis and septicemia can strike but thankfully she survived with no after effects.

“We rely on voluntary donations to fund our vital work into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicemia and supporting those affected by the diseases so every penny raised through this event will make a huge difference and enable us to continue our work.”

Jenni-Lea is being helped to hold the event by friends and family and said that the support she has received has been brilliant.

“I have my sister and my mum helping me and people have said that they will come along. I have had someone say that they will try and do a comedy act in the evening as well to support the cause so the support has been brilliant,” said Jenni-Lea.