A DOTING Dad is preparing to overcome his fear of heights to help raise money for the UK’s largest meningitis charity after losing his young daughter to the disease.
Earley-based Avais Hussain will be joining a team from the University of Southampton’s Audiology Implant Service (AIS), who had been supporting his deaf daughter Ayesha until she lost her life to meningitis in June 2017, to raise funds for Meningitis Now.
Money raised will be used to help support people living with the impact of the disease, to raise awareness, and for research.
“Meningitis is a terrible disease that affects many people every day – my family and I have experienced the affects first hand,” said Avais.
“Ayesha was three and was born profoundly deaf. She was such a beautiful little girl, full of life.
“She was supported by the AIS for her hearing – the team at AIS had seen Ayesha make great strides in her hearing tests and exceed expectations.”
He said that last year a few members of AIS decided to get together and raise money for Meningitis Now in memory of Ayesha. So far, the team had already held cake sales and taken on a cycle ride from Bristol to Bath. Now three brave team members were preparing for a skydive to raise even more funds.
“Shock horror, I have decided to join the AIS team to support them in their fundraising – along with facing my own fear of heights,” said Avais.
“And in the build up to the skydive I ran the Sage half marathon so hoping to get lots of support and donations for the charity”.
AIS have set a target to raise £6,000 – and are quickly closing in on that.
To make a donation, log on to mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/aisskydiveforayesha
