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 and 2008.

Tana Ramsay, Author and mother of four
Tana has a very personal reason for being an Ambassador for the Meningitis Trust. At 18, Tana contracted bacterial meningitis. Thankfully, she went on to make a full recovery, but the traumatic experience has left her in fear of the disease – not just for her, but for her children.

“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”.

Tana is running the 2010 Virgin London Marathon for us. Click here to read her training diary and see how she’s getting on.

Petra Ecclestone

We are delighted to welcome Petra Ecclestone, 21, daughter of Formula One boss, Bernie Ecclestone, as an Ambassador for the Trust. Petra’s involvement with the Trust came after she contracted viral meningitis when she was 13 and spent two weeks in hospital recovering. Although Petra thankfully went on to make a full recovery, she refers to it as the “moment that changed me forever”.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, Actor
Julie, the popular Coronation Street actor, became an Ambassador for the Meningitis Trust in the summer of 2009. She got to know the Trust through her friendship with a child whose life changed forever when he contracted the disease as a seven year old.

She is supporting the Meningitis Trust because she wants people to understand the difference it can make to people struggling to cope with the after-effects of meningitis. Julie knows that the disease will never be completely eradicated and wants others to support the Trust so that it can continue its vital work.

Julie is raising awareness of the Trust’s support services and is personally helping to raise funds for the Trust; taking part in the Walk in the Park in Manchester in September 2009.

Joanna Trollope, highly-acclaimed bestselling author of contemporary novels and historical fiction
Joanna, who has supported the Meningitis Trust for a number of years, knows first hand what a terrifying disease meningitis is. Her youngest child contracted the disease at the age of seven but fortunately made a full recovery. Despite that Joanna, who is now a grandmother, knows many other people are not so lucky.

She is anxious to raise awareness of the disease which, in its early stages, can easily be mistaken for a cold and, without prompt action, can lead to devastating after effects and complications. She is also busy raising awareness of the Trust, the work it does and its need for vital funds.
www.joannatrollope.com

Sian Lloyd, TV weather presenter, broadcaster, writer, TV and stage personality
Sian became an Ambassador for the Meningitis Trust in early 2009. Her charity work started as a child when she helped her parents collect money for local causes. As her career took off she realised that she could use her celebrity status positively to raise the profile of her chosen charities.

She is supporting the Meningitis Trust because she wants to make people realise what a difference the Trust can make to those who have experienced the disease. Sian admits that she did not fully appreciate the true extent of meningitis and, now that she understands the impact it can have on family, friends, colleagues and communities, she wants to make others aware as well.

Sian is personally helping to raise funds for the Trust as well as working to raise awareness of its work and took part in the Three Volcanoes trek in September 2009.

Ian Rush, MBE, Liverpool and Wales football legend
Ian contracted meningitis at the age of five. He 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 had no lasting affects. But Ian knows how different things could have been and is anxious to work with the Trust to raise awareness of its work and the disease.

Ian, who scored over 200 goals for Liverpool and 28 for Wales, is supporting profile raising and has donated a personal appearance fee to the Trust.

Alan Halsall
Chairman, Sliver Cross
As Chairman of the world famous nursery brand Silver Cross and a father who has personally experienced life threatening meningitis in his family, Alan Halsall is perfectly placed to be an Ambassador for the Meningitis Trust.

Alan’s son Ben contracted bacterial meningitis when he was a year old. Fortunately Ben went on to make a full recovery and now works with his father at Silver Cross. But they know that many other people are not so lucky.

Silver Cross has been a partner of the Trust since June 2008 and Alan became an Ambassador soon after. He is committed to helping to raise the profile of the Trust; and as Chairman of the Trust’s Development Board he is raising awareness of its work and funds so that it can continue; and helping to make sure parents know the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

Alan began his career as a lawyer and then 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.

Bernadette Tynan
BA (Hons), MA (London), PGCE (Cambridge),
MEd (Cambridge), Adv. Dip. Child Dev.
Ambassador Meningitis Trust UK
Bernadette Tynan is an international expert in the field of gifted children, the mind, brain and learning; a best selling author her work has taken her to China, Singapore, Europe and Australasia working with government, families and schools to benefit children and learning. Educated at London, Cambridge and Harvard, Bernadette has combined study of education, neuroscience, physiology and pharmacology of the brain, psychology and child development. She has featured regularly on documentary and current affairs programmes both in the UK and abroad, including NZTV, ABC, BBC, Channel Four, and Channel Five, where she recently completed a six part TV series. As writer and expert on education and family Bernadette has written on a variety of family, education and health issues, such as gifted children for the Sunday Mail, and the effects of Ritalin on children with ADHD for the Sunday Telegraph where Bernadette is expert on family and education. Bernadette also contributes to My Child Magazine on various specialist issues in the brain and learning. A long established supporter and active member of charity work, Bernadette is especially keen to see young people affected by meningitis get the best opportunities to develop their individual gifts and talents, and to raise awareness nationally amongst families and schools about meningitis. Despite its affect on millions of people, meningitis remains little understood in the public domain. Bernadette would like to change this and is both honoured and delighted to have been appointed by the Meningitis Trust as an Ambassador.