A North Yorkshire couple, who have raised more than £500,000 since their daughter died of meningitis, have announced plans for their final fundraising dinner.
James and Sally Bethell, of Middleham, responded to the death of their 24-year-old daughter, Jessica, in 2012 by launching a charitable foundation in her memory.
The Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation has gone on to raise valuable funds for meningitis research and a range of other good causes, as well as increasing awareness of the disease.
Now, the couple have announced their latest fundraising event – an ‘Inspirational Dinner’ at York Racecourse – at a time when an “unprecedented” meningitis outbreak in Kent has led to the deaths of two students among 27 suspected cases.
Racehorse trainer James said: “The tragic events in Kent have underlined the fact that there is still a great deal of public ignorance surrounding meningitis, which is why there’s still an urgent need to raise awareness as well as funds for vital research.
“By now, we should have a system in place for vaccinating students before they go to university, but it doesn’t seem to be taken seriously enough, and that’s extremely disappointing. Those lives could have been saved, and our hearts go out to the families having to come to terms with losing loved ones.”
Most of the Bethells’ fundraising has been through high-profile dinners, mainly supported by the racing industry, and the latest will take place at York Racecourse at 7.15pm on May 12.
The black-tie event will be hosted by ITV Racing presenter Matt Chapman, with tickets costing £150 per head to include a champagne reception.
The beneficiaries will be Meningitis Now and The Hunt Family Fund, which was established by BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter, Amy.
The fund, launched after the 2024 murders of John’s wife, Carol, and other daughters, Hannah and Louise, raises money for charities supporting vulnerable women.
A range of auction valuable prizes have been donated for the Inspirational Dinner, including a week-long trip to Kenya, and a voucher for two people to enjoy a stud tour and an afternoon’s racing at Newmarket as guests of Godolphin.
“This will be our last major fundraising dinner, but the charity won’t stop,” said Sally.
“There is still money in the foundation that will be used to support meningitis research and other good causes.”
The couple’s son, Edward, who succeeded James as a successful trainer in Middleham, has become a trustee of the foundation, alongside Sally’s nephew, Max Robinson.
“James and I aren’t getting any younger, so it’s about involving the next generation in the running of the foundation,” added Sally.
- Anyone wishing to attend the Inspiration Dinner at York Racecourse on May 12 should go to: jessicabethellfoundation.co.uk
Guest speaker at the dinner will be County Durham Paralympic swimmer, Lyndon Longhorne, who lost both legs, an arm, and the fingertips from his other hand after contracting meningitis as a baby.
The Bethells donated £10,000 from the foundation to support Lyndon when he became the first quadruple amputee to complete an Ironman Triathlon in under 24 hours last year.
“What James and Sally have done with the foundation since going through their own personal tragedy is phenomenal, and I’m proud to be involved in their last dinner,” said Lyndon, who backed the Bethells’ call for a student vaccination programme.
“How many more deaths will it take before the vaccine is proactively rolled out to teenagers as well as babies?” he asked.
