Parents raise cash for meningitis research in memory of tragic Katrina. (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Parents raise cash for meningitis research in memory of tragic Katrina.

CIRENCESTER parents Mike and Lesley Johnson, whose 16 year-old daughter Katrina died of meningitis last year, have raised over £3,000 to help fund vital research into the devastating disease.

Mr and Mrs Johnson, of Preston near Cirencester, paid a visit to the Stroud-based Meningitis Trust last week to present staff with a cheque for £3,500 in memory of their daughter who died of meningitis B on October 11 last year.

The money, which was donated by local individuals, groups and businesses, will be used to fund research into finding life saving vaccines and treatments for the disease.

During their visit the family had a chance to meet staff and find out about the charity's work.

They also presented a cheque for £3,500 to the National Asthma Campaign.

Katrina had suffered from asthma since she was three years old.

Mr and Mrs Johnson are now planning to start raising money for a special sailing trust in their daughter's memory which might include an annual sailing scholarship.

Katrina, a student at Cirencester College, was a member of South Cerney Sailing Club and had just qualified along with her brother Peter for the national squad.

Mr Johnson said: "The Royal Yachting Association is going to help us to set up the fund. "Katrina had so much fun with her sailing.

"If kids have something outside school and home to focus on it aids their development tremendously. "The fund will go towards the promotion of youth sailing."

The fundraising will be kick started when Steve Proffitt, a father of one of Katrina's sailing friends, runs the London Marathon on April 14 in aid of the new fund.

Anybody who would like to sponsor him or make a donation to the fund should send it to Cowley & Son Ltd at 62 Victoria Road, Cirencester.

The Meningitis Trust runs a 24 hour helpline. The number is 0845 6000800.