Runner’s driven by memory of brother
The brother of a Bath Spa University student who died from a rare form of meningitis says it feels like a “piece of him is missing”.
Graham Ward, 20, was in his final year of studying business and management at university when he died within 24 hours of a shock diagnosis of a rare form of bacterial meningitis after complaining of stomach pain.
Now his older brother Ryan, 25, has run in last weekend’s London Marathon to raise money for Meningitis Research Foundation.
“My parents rang at midnight,” said Ryan, remembering the awful day that his “great little brother” died. “My friend drove me straight down to Bath, where Graham and my sister Carina were both students at university. I was able to see him and talk to him whilst he was still alive, but it all happened so fast.”
Graham began complaining of a stomach illness on November 8, 2019.
His parents, John and Pauline, who were visiting for the weekend, took him to hospital where the triage nurse was initially reluctant to admit Graham in case he passed on his ‘stomach bug’ to the other patients.
But Graham’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and he tragically died less than 24 hours later. The cause of death was determined to be bacterial meningitis.
“The doctors said it was one of the most aggressive cases they’d ever seen,” said Ryan.
“I was so angry when it happened. I wanted to break things, punch things.
“I felt like I would’ve done anything for it to have been me, not him that died.”
Graham was a healthy, hard-working student who led an active life playing football and going to the gym.
Ryan remembers him as “always happy, and always smiling”.
He said: “He was so fun to be around. We had great banter as brothers and were very competitive. Graham was a gentleman, so polite and caring. It has been difficult since he died, I feel like a piece of me is missing, I think I may always feel that way.
On Sunday Ryan, who works as an IT salesman in Reading, took on the London Marathon in memory of Graham.
Having already raised over £20,000 for Meningitis Research Foundation with his 24-year-old sister Carina, Ryan hopes to boost that total.
“I think Graham would be really proud of us,” said Ryan. “I want something good to come from this and raising money for the foundation does that - it could help other families.
“I think he’d laugh if he knew that I was running the marathon. He’d want to have a go himself and beat my time!”
Ryan, who hopes to continue raising funds for MRF while raising awareness of the deadly disease, added: “Meningitis can happen to anyone.”
To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/ryan-ward24.