Patrons and ambassadors
We have a varied, gifted and skilled group of Patrons and Ambassadors who help us to make a difference to people affected by meningitis.
Meningitis Trust patrons and ambassadors help to raise our profile, spread the word about our work, raise awareness of meningitis and raise the vital funds we need to meet our commitment of support for life. They all give their time freely and we are grateful for their support.
Our President - Andrew Harvey
Andrew became President of the Meningitis Trust in 1997. A former BBC TV and ITN news presenter, Andrew now runs his own media company. His daughter, Lucy, contracted meningitis in 1998.
“I understand in a very personal way how vital the Trust’s work is. I am delighted and proud to represent such a worthwhile organisation".
Our Patrons
The Trust is delighted to have Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex as its Royal Patron. The Countess has helped launch a number of key initiatives for the Meningitis Trust, including our Support for Life campaign, our learning website for children, teachers and parents, and our services in Northern Ireland.
“In 2003 I was delighted to be invited to become the Royal Patron of the Meningitis Trust. It gave me an opportunity to look closely into the work of the charity. I was impressed by the tremendous support offered by the Trust to thousands of individuals and families affected by meningitis across the UK and Ireland. The fight against meningitis must go on as long as it is needed. It is only with the continued support of individuals and organisations that the Meningitis Trust can look forward to a future helping people in need”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, became a patron in 2003. He has been left with a hearing impairment through contracting meningitis as a child. The Archbishop helped us launch our work with black and minority ethnic communities, and hosted a reception at Lambeth Palace.
Lord Darzi is a Professor of Surgery at Imperial College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, and an Honorary Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital. Until 2009 he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Health, and has recently been appointed as Global Ambassador for Health and Life Sciences. He is one of the leading academic surgeons in the world, pioneering the use of robot-assisted surgery, and is internationally respected for his innovative work in the advancement of minimally invasive surgery, and in safety and quality of healthcare.
Professor Darzi was knighted in 2002 by the Queen as a Knight Commander of the most excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) and was appointed to Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council in 2009.
Lord Darzi had meningitis as a child and was delighted to become a patron of the Meningitis Trust in 2009.
Baroness Corston was MP for Bristol East from 1992 until she stepped down at the 2005 general election. She was raised to the peerage as Baroness Corston of St George in the County and City of Bristol in 2005. Living locally in Gloucestershire, Baroness Corston became a patron of the Meningitis Trust in 2010.
Dr Mark Porter, a well known media medic and GP in the Stroud area has been a patron of the Meningitis Trust for over 10 years.
Dr Tim Brain OBE QPM BA PhD FRSA CCMI, former Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary, is a well respected figure of the Gloucestershire community. He became a patron in August 2008.
Jane Wells MBE is Founder Patron of the Meningitis Trust. Her son had meningitis in the original outbreak in the 1980s and Jane was determined to provide more help and information for sufferers, and to raise awareness of the disease. She formed the Trust, together with other families whose lives had been touched by the disease. Jane became founder patron when she stood down from the trustee board in 2008 when she moved to Kenya.
Geoff Shaw is a retired banker with long-standing involvement in the charity and voluntary sector. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Meningitis Trust between 2000-2008 and became an Honorary Patron when he retired as Chairman and trustee in 2008.
Dr Chris Steele MBE is the resident doctor for ITV’s This Morning programme and has been a practicing GP for 40 years. He is passionate about raising awareness of meningitis, its signs and symptoms and after-effects. Dr Steele says; “I am proud to support the Meningitis Trust’s work. As a doctor, I have always been keen to promote meningitis and its symptoms. When I’ve covered it on This Morning programme, I have received some very grateful letters from parents who recognised the early symptoms as a result. The Trust does a great job in raising vital awareness, and the support for life that it offers people whose lives have been devastated by meningitis really is a lifeline”.
British award winning film and TV director, Ken Loach, has joined us as a Patron after seeing the impact of meningitis first-hand. Ken, whose granddaughter had meningitis and suffered hearing loss as a result, is committed to the ongoing fight against the disease. Ken says; “I am pleased to support the Meningitis Trust. It does great work helping those who have suffered from this savage illness. Any family with experience of meningitis, as our family has, knows that it can be devastating. It is important that the Trust is successful, so that it continues its important work!”
Our Celebrity Ambassadors
Lisa Snowdon
Lisa Snowdon joined our team after experiencing the terror of meningitis herself when she was struck down with viral meningitis in December 2010. Lisa had battled against the symptoms to continue with work commitments, but was rushed to hospital, where she was diagnosed with the disease. Thankfully Lisa has gone on to make a full recovery.
Before contracting meningitis, Lisa was blissfully unaware of the true impact of the disease. Lisa, who is well known for her Capital Radio breakfast show with Jonny Vaughan, Marks and Spencer modelling and TV presenting, was chosen by Vodafone to help promote its new Just Text Giving service, and nominated the Trust as her charity to benefit. Lisa is a keen Twitter user and has helped us reach thousands through this social media channel. Lisa says “I am fortunate enough to know about the fantastic work the Meningitis Trust does, but lots of other people don’t. I want to help the Trust spread awareness to make sure that anyone affected knows where to turn to get the support they need”.
Dr Rob Hicks
Rob is one of the UK’s most popular and well-known media-doctors, and is the resident health expert for British Forces TV and LBC radio. He also appears on ITV’s This Morning and BBC Radio 5 Live. As a practicing GP, Rob understands the true devastation that the disease can cause and is passionate about raising awareness of the after-effects, particularly the ones that can go unnoticed.
A prolific health writer and medical journalist he has columns in the People newspaper, Love It, Gurgle, and Prima Baby magazines. Rob is also a medical consultant and contributor to BBC Health, NHS Choices and BootsWebMD online sites and is the medical adviser to BBC1 TV show 'Doctors', and to the BBC2 series 'Grow Your Own Drugs'. Despite his many work commitments, Rob is keen to get information about meningitis and the work of the Meningitis Trust out to the public and has already secured us a fantastic 12 month awareness campaign with Prima Baby magazine. Rob says; “The work of the Meningitis Trust is vital – I know this as a GP, but also as a parent. Meningitis is a terrifying disease, striking fear into many with just the utter of the word. It’s heartening to see an organisation fighting back against the disease like this”.
Tana Ramsay, Author and mother of four
At 18 Tana contracted bacterial meningitis. She made a full recovery, but the traumatic experience left her in fear of the disease – not just for her, but also for her children. She ran in the 2010 London Marathon in aid of the Meningitis Trust and will be doing more running challenges for us.
“Having experienced the terror of meningitis first-hand, I understand why it’s a disease that people fear so much and why the work of the Meningitis Trust is so vital. I am delighted to be involved with the Meningitis Trust’s work and hope that together we can raise life-saving awareness of the disease and its symptoms, and highlight the charity’s important work. I feel lucky to be here to help the Meningitis Trust with its work; many don’t get the chance to fight back against the disease”
Petra Ecclestone
Petra Ecclestone, 21, daughter of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, contracted viral meningitis when she was 15 and spent a week in hospital and a further week at home recovering. Petra made a full recovery but refers to it as the “moment that changed me forever”.
Julie Hesmondhalgh, TV star
Julie, the popular Coronation Street star, got to know the Trust through her friendship with a child whose life changed forever when he contracted meningitis as a seven year old. She raises awareness of our support services and helps to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust; taking part in the Walk in the Park in Manchester in September 2009.
Sian Lloyd, TV weather presenter, broadcaster, writer, TV and stage personality
Sian supports us because she wants to make people realise what a difference we can make to people who have experienced meningitis. Sian personally helps to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust, as well as spreading the word about our services. She took part in our Three Volcanoes Trek in September 2009.
Joanna Trollope, bestselling author
Joanna’s youngest child contracted meningitis at the age of seven and made a full recovery but Joanna, who is now a grandmother, knows many other people are not so lucky. She helps to raise awareness of the disease; our work and our continual need for funds.
Ian Rush, MBE, Liverpool and Wales football legend
Ian contracted meningitis when he was five and spent four weeks in an oxygen tent. He was in a coma and his parents feared that he would not survive. Thankfully he did survive and has no lasting affects. Ian, who scored over 200 goals for Liverpool and 28 for Wales, helps to promote our work and has donated a personal appearance fee to the Meningitis Trust.
Our Ambassadors
Philip Hand BA FCMA
Philip is an Entrepreneur and Investor based in Berkshire. He is married with two young daughters. After a successful career with International Computers Limited (ICL), he co-founded Cozart plc, a medical diagnostics business in 1993. Cozart was sold in 2007.
Philip is currently Executive Chairman of a children's virtual world business and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants. Philip’s involvement with the Trust came through our Chief Executive, Sue Davie, who used to work with him at ICL in the 1990s.
Phil says; “I am proud to be an Ambassador for the Meningitis Trust. As a father, I know the fear that the word meningitis produces in parents, and through working with Sue and her team, I have seen the devastation that the disease can cause. The Trust plays a vital role in the fight against meningitis and I’m delighted to be part of it. I am determined to help the Trust continue providing support for life to people affected and raise life-saving awareness of the disease by helping it raise the funds it needs to ensure that no-one suffers alone”.
Alan Halsall, Chairman, Silver Cross
Alan is Chairman of the world famous nursery brand Silver Cross and his son Ben works with him. When Ben was a year old he contracted bacterial meningitis, but made a full recovery. Alan began his career as a lawyer and joined the family toy business David Halsall International. The company acquired Silver Cross in 2002, turning it into an international success story with many celebrity fans. He is married with two sons. Silver Cross partnered with the Meningitis Trust from 2008-2010 and Alan has continued to support us in a personal capacity as an Ambassador of the Trust.
Bernadette Tynan, BA (Hons), MA (London), PGCE (Cambridge), MEd (Cambridge), Adv. Dip. Child Dev.Bernadette Tynan is an international expert on gifted children, the mind, the brain and learning and is a best-selling author. She regularly appears on documentary and current affairs TV programmes and writes for national newspapers. Bernadette is keen to see young people affected by meningitis get the best opportunities to develop their individual gifts and talents, and to raise awareness of the disease.
Ways to support us
Whether you want to support us financially or volunteer at an event there are many great ways to support our work. Support the Meningitis Trust
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How we help
We offer the largest range of free professional services and community based support for people affected by meningitis, which includes:
