A MOTHER who lost her baby daughter to meningitis is leading an awareness drive in York.

Claire Fox, 37, from Upper Poppleton, suffered the devastating loss of her ten-month-old daughter Clara in October 2010 after she contracted pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

She and partner Stefan – and friends and family – have since raised more than £20,000 for charity in memory of Clara, pictured, who they described as “the friendliest and bubbliest little girl”.

Claire is supporting a campaign by the charity Meningitis Now which will see a giant billboard tour the country to make people consider the symptoms and need for research into meningitis.

Today, the billboard will be stationed at Asda in Monks Cross, and volunteers will be handing out free information about symptoms.

Claire said parents should be aware of the signs and trust their instincts.

She added: “I want people to know not to wait for a rash – it’s important that if your child is showing any signs of meningitis, don’t wait for a rash because it can be one of the last signs.

“My daughter never developed a rash.

“For the charity it’s essential they have funding to continue the research which is vital in funding new vaccines.

“Since losing Clara to pneumococcal meningitis, there’s now a vaccine for meningitis B which would have saved the life of a friend’s child.

“Progress is being made all the time and that only comes from raising funds.”

Claire, who is mum to 18-year-old Alexander, two-year-old Gabriel and three-month-old Jemima, said her daughter Clara initially had a temperature and a runny nose, which they initially thought was due to a new tooth.

When she began being sick they rushed her to the doctors, by which time she was looking vacant and flushed, but Clara was thought to have gastroenteritis.

The Meningitis Now campaign is being led by the charity’s founder Steve Dayman, who lost his son Spencer to meningitis in 1982.

Meningitis Now was formed in 2013 by bringing together Meningitis UK and the Meningitis Trust, founders of the meningitis movement in the UK.

It exists to save lives and rebuild futures by funding research, raising awareness and providing support.

l The early signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can be similar to the flu and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain.

The more specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash which does not fade under pressure.

In babies, symptoms can also include being floppy and unresponsive, dislike of being handled, rapid breathing, an unusual, moaning cry and a bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the top of the head).

There are an estimated 3,200 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia each year in the UK.

Following bacterial meningitis or septicaemia, one in ten people will die and at least a third of survivors will be left with lifelong after-effects such as hearing loss, epilepsy, limb loss or learning difficulties.