Meningitis UK would like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout 2010 – a year which has seen a number of exciting advances in the fight against meningitis.

We have been amazed by people’s generosity and dedication, despite the stresses and strains of the credit crunch.

Money raised has supported our vital research projects being carried out at universities throughout the country, all with the aim of wiping out meningitis through developing vaccines.

Despite great advances in the last 20 years with vaccines for Meningitis C, Hib and pneumococcal meningitis, there is still no vaccine for Meningitis B – the most common form of the disease in the UK. Six families sadly lose a loved-one to the brain bug each week.

Our Search 4 A Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7 million to fund lifesaving research into eradicating all forms of meningitis. 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 common symptoms and the need to act quickly, which can mean the difference between life and death.

If any of your readers would like to support our Search 4 A Vaccine Campaign, please phone Meningitis UK on 0117 373 7373 or visit meningitisUK.org

Steve Dayman, Chief executive of Meningitis UK, Cleeve Wood Road, Downend, Bristol.