Thursday 29 November 2012

Richard and Judi Present Cheque to the Youth Sports Trust


A cheque for nearly £8000 was presented to the Youth SportsTrust on November 7th at Newbury Racecourse, during the closing dinner of the first of this year's Raising Achievement conferences.  This was funds raised from Harry’s Lunch and Pirate Day.   Please visit the Youth Sports Trust web site for more details.

Wendi Parcell whose daughter Livvie was best friends with harry was the inspiration for Harry’s lunch and in partnership with Judi raised this sum of money.  Unfortunately Wendi at the last minute was unable to make the presentation – needless to say many thanks to Wendi for her dedication to Harry’s Lunch.  Pictured below is Wendi with husband Graham whose business The James Consultancy sponsored the Lunch.

The Youth Sports Trust present the Harry Mills Team Maker Award each year and will be doing so in January 2013 where Richard and Judi will present the award.  For more information please click here.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

New meningitis vaccine one step closer

Richard and Judi visited the Institute of Child Health and met members of the MRF at a leading research project. We were very privileged to meet lead researchers working at the cutting edge of life saving research, Professor Nigel Klein – Head of Dept. Of Infection at the Institute of Child Health – who also is a clinician at Gt. Ormond St Hospital and Dr Garth Dixon – Lead Clinician for the Dept. Of Microbiology, Virology and Infection and Prevention Control.

Understanding of the disease and the development of a vaccine is a complex task. The many strains of the disease, its ability to evade detection and change over time makes this an extremely difficult task.

We both really appreciated the time taken to explain the research and the new vaccine. The MRF are the leading researcher into Meningitis B and the donations through Harry’s Fund have been so important in this research and will continue to be so in the future as more vaccines are developed.

The following press release is from the MRF:-

Leading meningitis charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) has welcomed the news that a potentially lifesaving vaccine to prevent MenB is one step closer with today’s positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The vaccine, 4CMenB produced by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited is the first ever vaccine against meningococcal B meningitis and septicaemia (MenB) designed to cover most strains of the disease in Europe.

MenB is responsible for an average of 1870 cases across the UK each year, mostly in young children. Around 1 in 10 people affected will die, and a further 1 in 10 survivors will be left with serious after-effects, such as limb amputations, deafness, blindness, and brain damage.

The new vaccine will require a licence from the European Commission before European governments can consider it for implementation. The UK Government takes vaccination advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. If they recommend the new MenB vaccine, the earliest it could be implemented in the UK would be the end of 2013.

Chris Head, Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation said: “ We have a vision of a world free from meningitis and septicaemia so this news is a huge boost for our members and their families, and for doctors and scientists who have all worked tirelessly against this devastating disease. Since the first meningitis vaccine was introduced in 1992, many strains of meningitis including Hib, MenC and pneumococcal have been dramatically reduced. Once the MenB vaccine is licensed, it is essential that Government give it full consideration as soon as possible, especially given the shocking lifetime costs to people who survive MenB and are left with serious, life-long disabilities. We must not allow children to die from this disease if it can be prevented”

MRF Trustee Professor George Griffin, professor of Infectious Diseases and Medicine at St George’s University of London said: “This vaccine is a real step forward and will have a major impact on MenB cases. However, meningitis will remain a major clinical problem and research into microbial causes continues to be a priority alongside raising public awareness of the symptoms.”

Paralympics reporter and keen equestrian Diana Man (30) from Tunbridge Wells is building a new life after contracting MenB in November 2007 which left her without her lower legs, her fingers and with epilepsy.

She said: “My life has changed a great deal since getting MenB, but I have learned to adjust and manage just like anyone else. If a vaccine has been produced to prevent this disease it should be made available as soon as possible to prevent anyone else having to face the difficulties myself and others face in the future both physically, emotionally and financially.“

Further photos can be found here

Marlow FM Gems Award

Richard and Judi were the proud recipients of the Marlow FM hidden Gems award.  The award was made for raising £100,000 for Harry's Fund at the Meningitis Research Foundation.  This was presented at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on September 29th 2012.  We would like to thank Marlow FM for making the award.

A very big thank you must also go to all the people, businesses and clubs that have made donations to Harry's Fund.  The generosity, kindness and time that has been given is truly overwhelming.   It is also a tremendous salute to the memory Harry and all he represented in life.

Harry's Lunch 2012



We just wanted to say a huge thank you to those who joined us for Harry’s Lunch and to everyone who has contributed to Harry’s Lunch over the last five years.

It was an amazing event full of love, laughter and plenty of tears! What a very special way to finish Harry’s Lunch.

Please visit the below.

Huge thanks go to Jacob and Alex Jones who said what we all felt, so eloquently. It was so lovely to remember Harry and feel the love and warmth that was evident at the lunch.

Also a big thanks to Olympic Medallist Alex Danson who gave a truly inspirational speech.

Wendi and Judi
The total amount raised for Youth Sport Trust and Bisham Church is £8,980.   This includes  Alex Woolley's fantastic contribution of over £1,300.   Jacob Buckle raised a further brilliant £600 and this has gone directly to Youth Sport Trust.  Fraser Duncan raised £500 at at an event which his team ran for key business contacts.  Fraser says "at the function my boss talked about Harry’s Fund and the associated charities and subsequently everybody dug deep".  Softcat donated nearly £2000  to the lunch and also Pirates Day.

In addition to The Youth Sports Trust £1000 will be donated to to Bisham Church where Harry is buried.

It has been so much fun and a privilege organising Harry’s Lunch for the last five years, working so closely with all those involved.

Thank you all so much for supporting Harry’s Lunch over the last five years - we couldn't have done it without you.

With much love

Wendi & Judi
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