A grieving mother whose three-year-old son died from meningitis is now raising funds to fight the killer disease.

Sally Aveyard and her family were devastated by the sudden death of little Sam, who became a victim of the illness in November.

Even though she got him to the doctors within hours of his first symptoms appearing, the deadly disease took hold so quickly that he died later the same day at Dewsbury General Hospital.

Now, Mrs Aveyard, 23, a care assistant, of Tivoli Place, Little Horton, is determined to raise as much money as she can for the Meningitis Trust, which funds research into a vaccine, to try to save the lives of other children.

With other members of her family she is organising a charity concert and awareness-raising event at the Dovedale Working Men's Club in West Bowling, starting at 7pm on Wednesday April 28. There will be live entertainment from comedy duo Spider and Babs and singer Steve Mason, an appearance by the Bradford Bulls and among items to be raffled will be signed Bradford City and Bradford Bulls balls. Meanwhile cards and leaflets warning other parents about the early signs of meningitis will be distributed on the night.

Mrs Aveyard said: "It has been painful for me to see and read about other children, and adults who are still dying from meningitis. I have noticed a lot of cases in the papers since last November. There is not enough money going into research for this disease.

"When he got it, it was very sudden - he was drowsy and had sickness and diarrhoea at lunchtime, then I noticed a couple of spots. I took him straight to the doctors and when he got there, the rash had spread everywhere. They gave him an injection but by the time he got into the ambulance he was in and out of consciousness. He went downhill really fast."

Paying tribute to the youngster, who had an older brother, seven-year-old Jamie, she added: "He was so happy and mischievous. He had lots of friends and adored playing with toy cars."

Sally's father Anthony Dodd, who is helping to organise the event, said: "It was a shock to everyone when Sam died. He was right as rain in the morning but he had died within hours of getting to hospital."

Anyone able to help by donating a raffle prize can contact Sally on 0411 870065 or Anthony on (01274) 426275.

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