North Yorkshire
| NORTH YORKSHIRE |  | | | CLEVELAND | | | COUNTY DURHAM | | |
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Family and friends step out in memory of Helen
A COUPLE have raised more than £50,000 through annual charity walks in memory of their daughter who died from meningitis.
Terry and Sue Laing will be lead a five-mile ramble around countryside near Osmotherley on Sunday, seven years after the death of their daughter Helen at the age of 24.
They hope the event will raise thousands more for Meningitis UK while raising awareness of the disease, which can kill in only four hours.
Mrs Laing said Helen had a wonderful affinity with children and fulfilled her dream of becoming a fully-qualified nursery nurse just months before she died.
Helen was born with a rare condition which caused birthmarks and an uneven growth of her body.
Mrs Laing, who lives with her husband in Hartburn, Stockton, said Helen decided to stop abrasive treatment to her facial birthmarks to live a full life instead.
She said: "Helen said 'this is me, if anyone else has an issue with how I look then that is their problem'.
"She walked with her head held high. She was very happy."
On that fateful hot summer day in 2001, Helen was sent home from work suffering from a high temperature. Her parents made an appointment with their GP, who prescribed antibiotics for a virus.
She went to sleep as usual but when her mother woke in the middle of the night she found Helen thrashing about in bed.
She was rushed to hospital where she was put on a life support machine for five days before she died from meningococcal septicaemia.
The first Helen's Walk attracted 100 people, and last year Mr and Mrs Laing and their son, Andy, 34, were joined by 250 family, friends and supporters who have helped raise £54,000.
Mrs Laing said: "It is a fantastic achievement and it's all for Helen. We have met and supported other people who have lost loved ones by doing this. Out of such a terrible tragedy we have had some nice things happen and we have met some lovely people."
Mr Laing, a Stockton Borough councillor, said that, with hindsight, they would always wonder if they could have saved Helen if her symptoms had been detected sooner.
Mr Laing said: "We would urge anyone to push the issue if they suspect someone could have meningitis. Ask whether the GP is absolutely sure it isn't and challenge them a bit more.
"We want to try to avoid other people having to go through the same experience as us, and that is why we are putting all our energy into it."
The walk will start from the centre of Osmotherley at 2pm on Sunday. For more information, call Mr and Mrs Laing on 01642-884034 or email terrylaing5@hotmail.com.
9:03am Wednesday 7th May 2008
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