Dan Rowbotham from Hereford has been named as regional Ambassador for international charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – the meninges. Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same bugs and can be more life-threatening. Septicaemia can occur with or without meningitis.

The diseases are easily mistaken for milder illnesses, but can kill within hours or cause life-long disabilities. As many as one in ten of those affected will die and a third of survivors will be left with after-effects, some as serious as brain damage, amputations, blindness and hearing loss.

Children under five and students are most at risk, but the diseases can strike at any age and not all forms are covered by vaccines.

MRF Ambassadors are active members of the charity who all have personal experience of the diseases. They have been specially selected to give a more formal representation at a regional level and allow the charity more opportunities to spread awareness and fundraise in local communities.

Dan said: “I lost my daughter Beren to the disease in 2008. Beren was diagnosed as having Meningococcal Septicaemia by the ambulance staff and they began treatment immediately, transferring her to the Hereford Hospital whose A&E team responded with a passion to try and save her. The disease won and sadly Beren died four hours later. Myself, family and friends have raised £16,567.54 in her memory. I am honoured to be asked to promote the work of MRF in Hereford as an Ambassador as they have supported us so much since Beren passed away.”

Vinny Smith, Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation said: “we are delighted that Dan has agreed to represent the work we do in Hereford. We now have 64 Ambassadors in England and they take on a variety of roles from organising their own events, speaking to the local media about our latest campaigns to giving talks in nurseries, schools and colleges across the region.”