IT was heartening to read your article on November 1 about four-year-old Zac Moran’s nursery’s fund raising efforts to buy him a special bike.

Meningitis left the toddler with a condition called global delay, which has, unfortunately, affected his development.

We wish Bright Futures Childcare every luck with raising £1,200, as I’m sure the bike will help Zac enjoy activities a lot more in the future.

Here at Meningitis UK, we sadly know only too well how devastating the disease can be and how quickly it can take hold.

Knowing the symptoms and seeking prompt treatment can make a vital difference to the outcome. However, sadly, sometimes even if the symptoms are recognised, prompt treatment sought and the best medical care is given, it is still not enough to save a life.

Meningitis is also often incredibly difficult to detect as the symptoms are hard to distinguish from the common cold and flu, plus there are occasions when people show no, or very few, symptoms.

For all these reasons, we believe prevention is the only way to truly eradicate the disease, and developing a preventative vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis and its associated diseases is our sole focus.

Last year, we launched our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to raise £7million to fund lifesaving research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B — the most common form of meningitis in the UK for which there is currently no vaccine. The number “4” signifies the devastating fact that meningitis can kill in under four hours.

In the absence of a vaccine, we also distribute a wide range of material to raise awareness of the symptoms.

For details, call Meningitis UK on 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org Philippa Walker, Meningitis UK