Join us in the race to defeat meningitis
Meningitis can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time and is a race against time from the moment the infection strikes.
Across the world, meningitis kills 1 in 10 people and causes lifelong disability in 1 in 5 people who survive it. Tragically, children under 5 account for half of all meningitis deaths.
Our vision is a world free of meningitis. We’re working towards this by funding vital scientific research, providing information and campaigning to enable prevention, early diagnosis and treatment and raising awareness of the disease in communities across the world.
This World Meningitis Day, fundraise or give whatever you can, and support us in the race to defeat meningitis – together we can beat it.
What is World Meningitis Day and why is it important?
Meningitis changes lives, devastates families, and impacts communities every day.
Symptoms can be easily confused with other illnesses, like COVID or flu, and the disease progresses rapidly. It can kill within hours or result in life-long complications for those who do survive. It is a medical emergency in every country and every language.
Every year, people from all over the world come together for World Meningitis Day (5th October), to raise awareness of the disease and the Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030. Turning the World Health Organization's plan into reality, could save more than 200,000 lives every year and significantly reduce disabilities caused by meningitis. Countries worldwide have committed to the vision but it’s up to everyone to make that vision a reality. The clock is ticking – let's make every day to 2030 count.
I’m already fundraising for you - how can I support World Meningitis Day?
We are lucky to have so many incredible supporters.
We asking everyone who is already fundraising for us to support our World Meningitis Day campaign.
We want you to shout about what you're doing and why you're united in the race to defeat meningitis to mark World Meningitis Day.
Whatever your reason for choosing to support us, whether you've run London Marathon for us, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, completed the Great North Run or held a bake sale, this 5th October we need you to share your incredible achievement and why you chose to be united with us in the race to defeat meningitis and share it on social media to mark World Meningitis Day.
Alternatively, why not choose from our digital toolkit of social media resources, which includes signs and symptoms to watch out for, and help spread a little life-saving awareness?
How is money raised used to defeat meningitis?
Children under 5 account for half of all meningitis deaths. The money that you raise will go towards funding vital research, raising lifesaving awareness, so that people can spot meningitis signs and symptoms, and supporting families that have been directly affected by the disease, so they don’t have to cope alone.
I’d love to get involved – how can I support World Meningitis Day?
Feeling inspired to get involved in fundraising?
If you’d love to play your part in helping to defeat meningitis there are plenty of other ways you can support our World Meningitis Day campaign.