Meningitis Research Foundation

09/06/2026

Remembering Ian Beningfield 💜

We recently lost our much-loved colleague and friend, Ian ‘Benny’ Beningfield, who passed away suddenly after a short illness.

For 21 years, Benny dedicated himself to the mission of defeating meningitis. During his time at Meningitis Research Foundation, he helped raise more than £40 million. This incredible achievement funded vital research, supported global awareness campaigns, influenced health policy nationally and internationally, and ensured thousands of people and families received expert support when they needed it most.

In the days since his passing, we have been deeply moved by the many tributes, memories and messages shared by colleagues, supporters, partners and friends. They are a testament to the extraordinary person Benny was and the lasting difference he made to so many lives.

His legacy lives on — not only in the funds he raised, but through the people he inspired and the progress he helped achieve in the fight against meningitis.

At the request of his family, we have established a Remembrance Fund in Benny’s memory to continue the work he cared so deeply about. We can think of no more fitting tribute than to carry forward the mission that meant so much to him.

If you crossed paths with Benny, we invite you to share a message or make a donation in his memory.

Together, we can celebrate an extraordinary colleague, friend and fundraiser and ensure his legacy continues to make a difference for years to come. Purple heart

👉https://ianbeningfield.muchloved.com/

05/06/2026

Campaigning to close the MenB protection gap: why no family should have to endure the loss of a child

This week in Westminster, our Chief Executive, Vinny Smith, met Sharon Hodgson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, to make the case for urgent action to protect teens and young adults from MenB.

Joining Vinny was Mike and Becky Kenny, who lost their daughter, Juliette, to MenB during the Kent outbreak. With the support of Rosie Duffield MP, together we called for better protection from MenB for young people.

A deeply moving meeting, thank you to everyone for taking this moment to truly understand the impact of MenB. After more than a decade of campaigning on this issue, the need for change has never been clearer.

For Juliette.
For every young person at risk of MenB in the UK.
For every family whose world has been changed forever.
The time to expand routine NHS MenB vaccination to teenagers and young adults is now.

Meningitis Research Foundation funds pioneering research, supports people affected by meningitis in the UK and Ireland, and drives global awareness and understanding. Learn more, get support or donate today.

02/06/2026

“Vaccine research is vital, and advocacy is what ensures that evidence translates into policies that save lives.”

That was the aim of Lucinda Inman and Kieran Carr from our Research, Health Insights and Policy team when they spoke at the Pint of Science festival in Bristol recently. 🍺

Taking the UK's infant MenB vaccine programme as a real-world example, they walked the audience through the full journey, from a vaccine being approved to it becoming part of the national vaccination programme.

Because as they put it, vaccine research is vital and advocacy is what ensures that evidence translates into policies that save lives. That is precisely why this kind of work matters so much to us at Meningitis Research Foundation. 💜🔬

28/05/2026

Thank you to every single one of our incredible London Marathon participants, here are some of the best bits. 💜

It is always one of our favourite days of the year, getting to meet some of the amazing people that fundraise to help us make a real difference.

We are so proud of every single one of you. Your determination and your commitment to a world free from meningitis means everything to us.

Thank you, we can’t wait to do it all again next year. 📅

Apply for the 2027 London Marathon here: https://www.meningitis.org/event/tcs-london-marathon-2027/

26/05/2026

See how people came together for the world’s largest day of collective action on meningitis. 🌍

✨ The World Meningitis Day 2025 impact report is here - and it’s powerful.

Thanks to your support, this year broke records:

🌎 148 countries took action.
📢 An estimated 1 billion people reached with life-saving information on meningitis.
📈 Participation has grown 208% in just 4 years.

We’re now just short of the World Health Organization’s target for 80% of Member States taking part in World Meningitis Day - a key milestone in their Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030.

Discover the real impact of collective action.

Read our report 👉 https://worldmeningitisday.org/our-impact/

World Meningitis Day is the world’s largest day of collective action on meningitis. Learn about its reach and impact.

20/05/2026

Last week, we lost our colleague and friend, Ian “Benny” Beningfield, who passed away suddenly after a short illness. Benny was our Head of Fundraising and Partnerships. We are still struggling with saying ‘was’.

For 21 years, Benny was a huge part of Meningitis Research Foundation. He brought warmth, energy, humour and deep commitment to everything he did, and helped so many people channel their experiences into action.

He leaves an extraordinary legacy in the lives he changed, the relationships he built and the work he helped make possible. We will miss him enormously.

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with kind words and lovely memories in recent days, they have meant more than you can imagine.

This is our tribute to Benny 👇

https://www.meningitis.org/news-and-blogs/remembering-benny/

18/05/2026

Thank you for choosing to run for Meningitis Research Foundation at this year's London Marathon. You are the power behind our work and these photos prove you gave everything out there.

We have just received the official event photography and you all look incredible. Take a look and tag yourself in the comments.

If you would like to run for Meningitis Research Foundation at next year's London Marathon, you can sign up on our website: https://www.meningitis.org/event/tcs-london-marathon-2027/

16/05/2026

Meningitis can be life-threatening; knowing the symptoms could save a life. 🦠

Following the recent MenB outbreak in Kent and other meningitis cases reported across the UK, it’s important that everyone knows the symptoms to look for and to seek urgent medical attention if concerned. 🚨

Symptoms can appear in any order, or some not at all – making awareness even more vital.

Watch the video to learn the signs you should never ignore.

To find out more, head to: https://www.meningitis.org/about-meningitis/symptoms/

15/05/2026

"It is deeply upsetting to hear of meningococcal meningitis cases in Reading and Henley, and we know this will be a very worrying time for the young people affected, their families and school communities. Alongside those who are seriously unwell, someone has lost their life to meningitis, which is always a tragedy. At a time like this, we want people to know that support and information is available through Meningitis Research Foundation.

We urge everyone to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis, trust their instincts, and seek urgent medical advice if someone appears seriously unwell. In the UK, routine vaccinations offer vital protection. But gaps remain, particularly against MenB for teenagers and young adults. We continue to call for urgent action to close that gap” - Vinny Smith, our Chief Executive, responds to the meningitis cases in Reading.

If you have questions, concerns or need support, our Support Services team is here to help from Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

📞 0808 800 3344 (UK) / 1800 41 33 44 (Republic of Ireland)
✉️ [email protected]
💬 Live chat at meningitis.org

Outside these hours, visit meningitis.org for trusted information on meningitis, including:

📌 Symptoms in young adults: meningitis.org/about-meningitis/symptoms/young-adults/

📌 How does meningitis spread? meningitis.org/news-and-blogs/how-does-meningitis-spread/

📌 Am I at risk from meningitis? meningitis.org/about-meningitis/am-i-at-risk-from-meningitis/

📌 Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccines: key information meningitis.org/about-meningitis/vaccines/meningococcal-vaccines/menb-vaccines/

📌 Meningococcal meningitis: meningitis.org/about-meningitis/bacterial-meningitis/meningococcal-meningitis/

14/05/2026

Catch our colleagues Kieran Carr (Senior Policy Advisor) and Lucinda Inman (Research Projects Manager) sharing how vaccines go from approval to routine use in the UK, using the infant MenB programme as a real-world example.

They’ll also discuss how research and advocacy help turn evidence into life-saving public health policy.

📍 To***co Factory, Bristol
📅 18th May
🕢 7:30pm

️Book your spot: https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/changing-the-world-by-preventing-infection/

💥7 days to go before hashtag !
Check the programme here http://pintofscience.co.uk
Don't forget to book your ticket to join the science celebration!

🗓️ 18-20 May 2026 Put it in your calendars!
📍45+ locations in the UK
🗣️Nearly 450 events