Apprentice star on charity walk

Up to 200 people were walking the 14 miles from Bath to Bristol on Saturday to raise money for meningitis research.

Among them was Lorraine Tighe, a recent contestant on BBC show The Apprentice, whose daughter Alexia contracted the disease at the age of two.

Ms Tighe, 37, is supporting the Bristol-based charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to develop a vaccine for meningitis B.

This was the strain which left Alexia critically ill.

'So traumatic'

Ms Tighe said: "We were told that if we'd got Alexia to hospital any later then she might have died.

"A little boy in the bed next to her sadly passed away from the same strain.

"It was so traumatic and will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Organiser Paul Hobbs added: "It's fantastic to have such good support.

"We're on course for a record number of participants and hope to match last year's fantastic total of £24,000."

Walkers set out from Bath at 0900 BST on Saturday, with most expected to reach Bristol by late afternoon.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Meningitis UK
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