Nurse gears up to tackle meningitis

A NURSERY nurse is gearing up to run the Edinburgh Marathon to highlight the dangers of meningitis after the disease touched her family twice.

Susan Lucas, 46, of Darvel in Ayrshire, lost her niece, Samantha, to meningitis when she was just 11 months old.

Several years earlier, her cousin, Carolyn, contracted the disease and although she survived, she has been left severely brain damaged, requiring 24-hour care.

To mark what would have been Samantha’s 21st birthday this year, Susan decided she would run the marathon for Bristol-based charity
Meningitis UK.

Mum-of-two Susan hopes to raise at least £500 when she takes on the May 26 race.

She said: “Realistically, I’m looking at a time of four-and-a-half hours. I’m totally determined to finish the marathon – even if I have to walk.”