BACK on Monday 4th October 2010, Saul-man Barry Curran was working in Speke near Liverpool and received a call from his wife Catherine to say that his 4-week old boy Callum had been rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis.
Barry had the agonising journey of getting from Speke to the Paediatric Ward in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, to be by Callum’s bedside. After a journey that seemed to take an eternity, Barry arrived at the hospital and he and his wife Catherine were given the news that Callum did have meningitis and that he was a very sick little boy.
After a night in intensive care, with the help of the full medical team of doctors and nurses, Callum began to respond to the drugs, and he began on his road to recovery.
[caption id="attachment_28072" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="The team ready for the Dash from Speke near Liverpool. Barry Curran, right with Steve Taylor, Richard McGeevy and Mark Curran. "]
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He was diagnosed with Strep B meningitis. Group B Streptococcus is just one of a number of bacteria which normally live in our bodies and carrying it is perfectly normal. This is the most common cause of severe infection in newborn babies in the UK. Pregnant women can transmit this to their newborns at birth. Catherine had been diagnosed with Strep B at 20 weeks of her pregnancy. While she was treated with antibiotics and IV fluids during labour, Callum unfortunately still contracted the ‘late-onset’ Group B Streptococcus infection called meningitis.
Downpatrick butcher Richard McGreevy who will be running the 54 miles said, “I have only been jogging for a short time. I’ve taken part in the Jimmy’s 10K but have not done a run of this length before. It will be enjoyable and for a very worthy cause.” Saul man Mark Curran who is also a close friend of Barry said, “We are just amateur joggers. But we will cover the distance for this great cause. We’ve already started the training for it.”
Barry added, “If it had not of been for the quick reaction of the A&E doctors and nurses we may have been reading something different today.
“Callum has now made a full recovery, and to support the amazing work the doctors and nurses did at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, I will be  Barry  recreating the Mercy to Newry Dash from that agonising day, although this time he will be running it. Accompanied by Steve Taylor, Mark Curran and Richard McGreevy from Downpatrick, these intrepid runners will run alongside me.
“As you can imagine, the journey home from Speke was a traumatic experience. I did not know what I was coming back to. Now as a tribute to the help and support we received from the hospital I will run the 54 miles to recognise their very important work in dealing with this sometimes deadly disease.”
www.justgiving.com/mercy-dash
The intinary for 22 September 2011
Run from Speke to Birkenhead docks – 12 miles
Overnight ferry to Belfast
23rd September 2011
Run from Belfast docks to Dromore , Northern Ireland  – 14 miles
24th September 2011
Run from Dromore  to Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry – 26 miles
Total – 54 miles.
Current Sponsors of the event include: UK Outdoor Adventure Ltd who said, “We are a specialist outdoor activity provider that cater for all ages and abilities from beginner to advanced in a huge range of outdoor activities UK wide. We are extremely pleased and proud to be sponsoring Barry and the other members of the running team with this fantastic cause, and wish them the very best of luck from all the staff at www.ukoutdooradventure.com “
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