A MOTHER whose 15-year-old son was killed by a rare strain of meningitis says fundraising for her participation in this year’s Great North Run is helping her cope with his loss.

Katharine Davies’s son Jamie fell victim to the devastating illness meningococcal meningitis in February this year.

His sudden death shocked staff and pupils at Darlington’s Hummersknott Academy and dozens of flowers, letters and a school shirt signed by many of his friends were subsequently left outside the school.

Mrs Davies, 45, readily admits she is “not a runner”, but chose to take on the half-marathon challenge in memory of her son and to raise cash for the charity Meningitis Now.

Last month a football match and fun day at Hummersknott raised more than £4,000 for the charity, which provided support in the wake of the year 11 student’s death.

Mrs Davies, a lecturer in law at Northumbria University, is teaming up with her brother Chris Davies and three others, John Barker, Jamie’s form tutor for the past five years from Hummersknott, along with Claire Middleton and Debbie Rook.

She said: “I work in Newcastle so this event felt like the natural thing to do. I’m determined to get round the course.

“Fundraising is a way of coping with the loss and grief and provides some sort of focus.”

Describing her son, she said: “Jamie loved a wide range of music and played the guitar. He liked to cook and bake and had applied to Darlington College to take a catering course there starting this September.

“Jamie was very popular and was out on his bike all the time with his friends. He was very kind, loving and had a great sense of humour, always making people laugh and entertaining the group.”

Mrs Davies, who is married and has two other children, Suzi, 13, and Zak, nine, who will be cheering her on, has been visited by Steve Dayman, the founder of Meningitis Now.

He lost his young son Spencer to the disease more than 30 years ago.

“Talking to Steve has been helpful in trying to come to terms with what happened,” Mrs Davies added.

“The charity has also put me in touch with other parents affected by this disease – that’s been really helpful.”

Mr Dayman said: “As a charity we rely entirely on the generosity, energy and initiative of our supporters to raise the vital funds we need to carry out our lifesaving and life-changing work.

“The efforts of Katharine and her team will make a real difference to those who are at risk from meningitis and those whose lives have already been changed forever because of it.”

To make a donation visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/jamie2017