Tragic Liam Keeling's family in meningitis alert

A campaign to highlight the dangers of meningitis was being launched today by the family of a Staffordshire schoolboy who died after contracting the disease.

Liam Keeling, of Cheslyn Hay, died suddenly in October last year, just two weeks after celebrating his thirteenth birthday.

He was a former pupil at Cardinal Griffin School and a talented footballer with Wyrley Juniors.

His parents Andy and Georgina held an open house at their home in Littlewood Lane on the first anniversary of his death.

And today members of the Liam Keeling Memorial Fund were joining campaigners from Meningitis UK at Cannock's Asda store to begin a week-long awareness initiative.

Mr Keeling, aged 50, said: "In the absence of a vaccine we need to make sure people are more aware of the disease and how quickly it can strike. Unfortunately Liam didn't have any of the traditional symptoms you associate with meningitis, which is why we need to safeguard people against the disease before it can take hold.

"It's been a difficult year but we've been really comforted by everyone's support and enthusiasm for fundraising."

An eye-catching trailer will be stationed in the supermarket car park all this week to highlight the symptoms of the disease and the need to act quickly, carrying the hard-hitting warning that meningitis can kill in under four hours. Free wallet-sized symptoms cards will also be available to shoppers from the customer service desk and baby changing rooms.

And the charity is also offering the public free symptoms information packs to help raise awareness.

The Liam Keeling Memorial Fund has already raised more than £55,0000 for Meningitis UK, which will be used to fund work to find a vaccine for all forms of the devastating disease.

Fund chairman Richard Holmes said: "The success of the campaign is down to Liam's popularity.

"He was so well-loved and his death came as a huge shock to everyone.

"We're amazed ourselves at how much has been raised.

"We've never struggled to get people along to events, which is a sign of how strongly people feel about the cause."