The Harley Slack Fund

John O' Groats to Lands End Bike Ride - Please also visit http://www.harleyslack.org
Home
Updates on Harley's progr
Dom Collins CD for Harley
The Ride
The Results
Contact Us
Donating
Sponsored Events
Sponsors

In aid for three year old Harley Slack, who is critically ill with meningitus B (Meningococcal septicaemia), we are going to be raising funds to give him the life that he deserves. Harley deserves the best chance in life and with everybody's help we will be able to let him chose his own path and replace the limbs that he has lost to the disease. There a numerous ways to donate and contribute to the cause and this website contains all of the information required to make the 'bravest boy in britain' happy once more.

 

The above picture is Harley Slack taken earlier this year. Since he was born he has suffered from epilepsy, is lactose intolerant and has suffered from a poor immune system. This has helped meningitus spread through his body as his defences weren't strong enough. Below shows the full effect of the disease and what it can do to a human body, this is meningitus B at its worst.

 

Meningococcal disease is uncommon, affecting approximately 1 person in every 20,000 each year. But it can be very serious. Meningococcal disease is the commonest infectious cause of death in children and young people up to 20 years, and it is the number one killer of children aged 1-5 years.  The greatest burden of group B disease is in children under five years of age, and so the development of an effective group B vaccine for use in infants is a major priority.

What is Meningitis?
 

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the linings that surround and protect the brain. It can be caused by many different organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Vaccines are the only way to prevent meningitis, and until we have vaccines to prevent all types you need to know the signs and symptoms to look out for and the action to take.

Septicaemia (blood poisoning) is caused when bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably. Meningococcal bacteria can cause both meningitis and septicaemia. Together these are known as meningococcal disease.

Most cases of meningitis happen alone, but when there is a case of meningococcal disease, there is a small chance that further cases can happen. To reduce the risk of further cases people who have been in close contact may be offered antibiotics.

 

Symptoms

 

Meningitis has many symptoms but don't always show. There is no peticular order of which the symptoms appear and can differ depending on age aswell as the type of meningitis (I.E. bacterial meningitis, meningitis septicaemia and viral meningitis). Here is a list of some  symptoms to look out for;

 

  • neck and back stiffness,
  • over-sensitivity to light (photophobia),
  • severe headache
  • drowsiness
  • purple rash
  • vomiting
  • unusually cold hands and feet
  • rapid breathing

    •  

    After-effects of septicaemia

     

    In severe cases when tissues die, fingers, toes and limbs sometimes need to be amputated. People who experience complications as a result of septicaemia often have to visit hospital frequently and need many operations. Rehabilitation and recovery can take months if not years.