“The Atlantic Coast Challenge was one of my lifetime goals and It feels amazing, to have accomplished it while raising money for Meningitis Now.”
“I started running in January 2023 and ran my first half marathon in London last year. Before I started running I could barely do a 5k so I would encourage anyone thinking about running to do it.
“I was inspired to do the Atlantic Coast Challenge to prove to myself that anything is possible and that you can overcome challenges in your life if you are determined enough while also raising money for Meningitis Now in memory of my cousin Emily Styles.
“I heard about Meningitis Now for the first time after Emily's death. I saw the brilliant work my Auntie, Julia Styles did campaigning alongside Meningitis Now. One of the campaigns she took part in was to encourage the government to make a MenB vaccination available for babies.”
In May 2015 the NHS introduced the MenB vaccine for babies born after 1 May 2015.
A lasting legacy
“Learning about the work my aunt did inspired me to further help raise money to go towards Meningitis Now’s crucial work and raise awareness to help save more lives from this disease.
“Taking part in this challenge was brutal at times with high winds, pouring rain and 3828m of elevation but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Completing this challenge has massively improved my resilience for hard times as I had to push myself out my comfort zone which I think is so important for growing into a better person.
“I originally wanted to raise £500 for Meningitis Now so smashing my fundraising goal and raising over £1,000 was amazing. Everyone's support and kindness has meant the world to me, my family and to Meningitis Now.
“As a lasting legacy to Emily and all that she still had to give we feel it’s about time we all tried to be a bit more like Emily. Emily Charlotte Styles fell ill suddenly on the morning of New Year’s Eve 2014, she collapsed and did not regain consciousness.
19 years and 9 months
“She had been fit and well over Christmas and we had to make the heart-breaking decision to turn off the machines keeping her alive on New Year’s Day just as so many people were celebrating the start of a new year.
“Emily was just 19 years and 9 months old when she died. She was a fantastic and precious daughter, older sister of Sophie, granddaughter, cousin, niece, girlfriend and best friend to so many. Emz had the funniest too-loud laugh that often had friends and family giggling along.
"Meningitis Now has been so important for my family after losing my cousin Emily at 19.
Support
“Emily’s parents – my Auntie Julia and Uncle Peter - have been supported with other families on Forever Weekends and Auntie Julia and had some counselling / relaxation sessions funded by the Rebuilding Futures Fund.
“Meningitis Now has also greatly supported Emily’s sister, my cousin, Sophie. When Sophie was studying at college she was awarded some funding through the Rebuilding Futures Fund to go towards a laptop to help with her studies on her college course.
“Sophie and my sister Lucy have also been supported on the Believe & Achieve programme – a programme for 11-25 year-olds who have been directly or indirectly impacted by meningitis. In fact my sister Lucy is now an Ambassador for Meningitis Now.
“I know they have all found comfort in sharing and supporting other families going through grief too and Auntie Julia has done several campaigns on TV and radio including an interview on BBC Breakfast in 2017.
“The Atlantic Coast Challenge was one of my lifetime goals and It feels amazing, to have accomplished it while raising money for Meningitis Now.”
You can donate to Dom’s fundraiser via his JustGiving here.
If you'd like to learn about the support we offer check our our website.
If you have been affected by meningitis, contact the Meningitis Now nurse-led Helpline on 0808 80 10 388 or email helpline@meningitisnow.org.
