A FATHER who lost his son to meningococcal septicaemia has raised more than £12,000 for research into the illness through an annual motocross race meeting.

Now Mick White is preparing to take that total even higher when the event is staged again tomorrow at a purpose-built track at Wilberfoss.

Mick, of Lawrence Street, told how his son Louis died in July 2002, shortly before his second birthday. “Louis had not been his usual self one afternoon,” he said.

“He was tired and very hot and his mum Karin decided to take him to York Hospital where he was admitted and monitored.

“At 11pm, she discovered a rash on his arm and the staff spent most of the night trying to figure out what Louis had got.

“At 4am, I was called to the hospital where Louis was in intensive care.

“Unfortunately, Louis had one of the worst types of meningitis and they weren’t able to save him and he died that morning.”

A keen Motocross fan and supporter of the Meningitis Research Foundation, Mick launched the ‘Louis’ race event in aid of the charity in 2003.

From noon, spectators will be treated to an afternoon of Motocross racing across four different ability classes.

An entrance fee of £5 per car will be charged on the gate, with all profits to the foundation’s ongoing fight against meningitis and septicaemia the blood poisoning form of the disease. For further information about the event, go to motocrossclub.co.uk

Genna Vizard, community fundraising officer at the foundation, spoke of her gratitude for Mick’s continuing support of the foundation through the event, which had raised so much money.

She said: “The money raised at the annual ‘Louis’ race meeting will make a valuable contribution to our work in funding vital scientific research, raising awareness of the symptoms, and supporting people affected by these devastating diseases.”