A MOTHER whose son died from meningitis has vowed to continue fundraising for charity after helping to raise £4,000 in his memory. Daniel Boyes, a popular 20-year-old from Pickering, died in 2008 after falling seriously ill.

Since Daniel’s death, his mum, Rachel Hilton, and his friends and family have held a series of events, including coffee mornings and a music event, to raise money for the Meningitis Trust and Meningitis UK.

Rachel said: “It would be fantastic if one day a vaccine could be found. Dan went to work a fit and healthy young man, 24 hours later he was fighting for his life and sadly it was not to be.

“Ask everybody who knew Dan and they have never forgotten him. There is a page on Facebook dedicated to him that people still write on. He was a friend to everyone.” Rachel said about £2,000 had been donated to the Meningitis Trust, which offers support to people whose lives have been affected by meningitis. The charity has looked after her and her family, even sending a card on the anniversary of David’s death, Rachel said.

About £2,000 has also been given to Meningitis UK which works to find a vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis. Daniel died in January 2008 after returning home to Ruffa Lane from working at a farm, complaining of flu-like symptoms. He became very disorientated and was taken to Scarborough Hospital, where tests confirmed he had meningococcal septicaemia - a dangerous bacterial form of meningitis.

Tragically, five days later doctors said that Daniel was brain dead and advised his family to switch off his life support machine.