Home / Health / Paralysed by Meningitis, Man Finds Hope in Exhibition
Paralysed by Meningitis, Man Finds Hope in Exhibition
9 Apr
Summary
- Man paralysed from neck down after meningitis finds solace in exhibition.
- Meningitis Now's '40 Years of Hope' exhibition features 40 affected individuals.
- Charity has raised over £610,000 for research into meningitis since 2010.
Jonathan Brough, paralyzed from the neck down since contracting meningitis in 2007, shared his positive feelings about being part of Meningitis Now's "40 Years of Hope" photographic exhibition. The exhibition, held at Three Storeys in Nailsworth, features 40 individuals impacted by the disease and highlights the charity's 40-year history.
The Stroud-based charity was founded following a local meningitis outbreak in the 1980s. CEO Tom Nutt emphasized the ongoing need for the charity's work, referencing recent outbreaks. Brough, who was training to be a ski instructor in Canada at 18 when he fell ill, receives support from Meningitis Now, including physiotherapy to play boccia.
Photographer Carmel King documented the stories for the exhibition, including that of Michelle Bresnahan, whose 16-year-old son Ryan died of meningitis in 2010. The family established "A Life for a Cure," which has since raised over £610,000 for research.
Despite advancements like the meningococcal B vaccination in 2015, Nutt stated that bacterial meningitis in the UK has decreased by an estimated 75% since 1986, a success attributed to the charity's research, awareness campaigns, and support services.
