MENINGITIS UK would like to say a huge thank you to all its volunteers throughout the North-East and North Yorkshire following the recent National Volunteers’ Week.

They are among the scores of supporters across the country who dedicate many hours of their time to help with a variety of tasks, from managing collection boxes to organising events.

National Volunteers’ Week celebrated the contribution of 22 million volunteers around the UK, saving charities thousands of pounds each year, which can be ploughed back into worthwhile causes.

Our star volunteers are vital to the charity, enabling us to get closer to our ultimate goal – to find a vaccine to eradicate all forms of meningitis.

Tragically, meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia continue to affect thousands of people in the UK every year and kill more children under five than any other infectious disease.

With the help of our volunteers and fundraisers we hope to beat the disease and spare thousands of families the heartache of losing a loved one.

To support our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, please call 0117 373 7373 or visit meningitisuk.org Steve Dayman, Chief Executive, Meningitis UK, Downend, Bristol.