“On 1 October 2024, I was invited to participate in ‘lighting the tracks ahead for World Meningitis Day’ (a partnership between Meningitis Now and Great Western Railway) to work towards a future where no-one in the UK dies from meningitis and that everyone receives the aftercare and support that they need.
“The day started with a train journey from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington, which allowed me and others to share our experiences of meningitis with journalists on the train from the BBC and ITV. The train journey was followed by a reception consisting of speeches by Rachel Geliamassi, GWR Customer Services Director, Lisa Snowdon, Meningitis Now President, Meningitis Now supporter Kate Speirs and Dr Tom Nutt, the CEO of Meningitis Now.
Talking to a news crew
“I wasn’t too sure about what to expect when I arrived on the day, but it was an interesting experience working with a news crew to share my experience and create a video reel that they wanted to share on ITV Meridian News. The people from the news crew were lovely and helped me understand what I needed to do, making me feel a bit more comfortable with what they needed to do to produce the news story.
“The day was very important because it provided an opportunity for a variety of individuals to come together and share our experiences of meningitis, to raise awareness of meningitis, and the after-effects that survivors can be left with – especially the hidden disabilities and after-effects that cannot be seen.
Information widely available
“Working with a company like ITV means that the information and stories shared by myself and others will be widely available, benefitting both survivors and their families, as well as the public. Not only will increasing awareness help other survivors to feel less alone in their experiences, but it will also help wider audiences to gain an understanding of some less talked about after-effects of the disease, sparking opportunities for new conversations and understanding of life after meningitis.”
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on the day and to GWR for their support in helping us raise such valuable awareness and engaging and educating passengers, staff and the public. Read more about the day here
