THE executive founder of Meningitis Now visited a family in Dorchester today to thank them for their efforts to raise money and awareness for his charity.

Naomi and Martin Patterson's seven year-old son George suffered from pneumococcal meningitis just a week before his first birthday.

He had to be given mouth-to-mouth by paramedics.

This experience left him with a range of conditions such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy. George is also deaf, peg fed and needs 24-hour care, spending a great deal of time in and out of hospital.

His parents have been campaigning tirelessly over the last few years to raise awareness of meningitis.

Among the crowd that came to The Sydney Arms in Dorchester to show their support, was Local MP Oliver Letwin and the paramedic who saved George's life several years ago Jeff Jones.

The visit comes at a time prior to Britain administering the meningitis meningococcal group B vaccination which is to be launched later this year.

Steve Dayman lost his son Spencer to the virus in 1982 and for parents Naomi and Martin Patterson, the vaccination has come in too late for George whose illness is degenerative.

Thanking the family for their dedication to the cause, Steve said: “Families like yours are the driving force behind the campaigning up and down the country.

“It’s a time for celebration, but we still have lots to do. It’s mixed emotions for a lot of people.”