Workers braved a drenching to trek 500 miles around their own building in memory of a much-missed colleague.
Staff from First Direct in Stourton, Leeds, were fundraising in honour of Jazz Gakhal, their co-worker who died from meningitis in 2010.
The mum-of-two woke up with a headache and was rushed to hospital by husband Ragbhir from their Gomersal home after he called NHS Direct.
The consultant who treated the 42-year-old said it was the worst case of meningitis he had seen and sadly she died at 5pm that day.
In tribute to her, 12 members of First Direct’s Academy team walked for 24 hours around their building to raise £1,200 for Meningitis UK.
Team manager and organiser Pam Sturgeon told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “There was a mixture of emotions over the 24 hours.
“There was a great feeling of achievement and chance to remember such a beloved colleague who sadly died.
“We let off balloons with messages to Jazz and laid flowers in First Direct’s memorial garden.
“We thank everyone who supported the event.”
Staff member Alistair McGregor, of Wakefield, even contributed to the total while on holiday in Tenerife – by walking 50 miles on the sunshine island.
Meningitis UK founder Steve Dayman thanked the fundraisers personally when he met them at their office.
Mr Dayman, who launched the charity after losing his 14-month-old son Spencer to meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in 1982, said: “What happened to Jazz highlights how quickly meningitis can strike.
“We thank the energetic employees for all their efforts to fundraise in her memory.”
He said the funds would be put to good use, adding: “Every penny raised will help us fund vaccine research to wipe out the deadly disease, so we can spare future generations the heartache of losing a loved one to meningitis.”
For information on Meningitis UK, call 0117 947 6320 or visit: www.meningitisuk.org
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