WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

SEPSIS causes 44,000 deaths in the UK annually — more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined. The condition is easily treatable if spotted soon enough. But many people — even doctors — are unaware of the signs.

Now the charity The UK Sepsis Trust, collaborating with Lord Ashcroft, the author and businessman, and a sepsis survivor himself, are launching a fundraising drive for a public health awareness campaign for adults. This will encourage people to seek medical attention early, and ask: could it be sepsis? Lord Ashcroft will match every penny the charity raises up to £250,000.

‘Sepsis poses an urgent problem for the UK, but if we join forces it’s one we can solve,’ says Dr Ron Daniels, chief executive of The UK Sepsis Trust. TO DONATE to the #ashcroft4SepsisUnited campaign, go to: JustGiving.com/SepsisUnited