Meningitis death fundraiser passes £7,000

A fundraising campaign in honour of one of the two young people who lost their lives in the recent meningitis outbreak in Kent has raised more than £7,000.

Eighteen-year-old Juliette Kenny was a sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham.

She and an unnamed 21-year-old University of Kent student died in the outbreak in March.

Kenny's family said the fundraiser will enable "donations to wildlife charities and support for environmental causes which were close to her heart".

A statement from her family read: "Thank you to all who have reached out to us and thank you for keeping us in your thoughts.

"It has been such a shock to us all and we have been overwhelmed with love and support from our family and friends.

"We are keen to celebrate Juliette's life and continue her legacy."

The UK Health Security Agency said 20 meningitis cases were confirmed in the outbreak.

Michael Kenny, Juliette's father, previously called her "a force in this world" who "spread fun, love and happiness".

Her family have urged the government to extend routine NHS access to the MenB vaccine to teenagers and young adults.

MenB is the most common cause of meningococcal meningitis in the UK, but routine vaccinations only began to be rolled out in 2015, meaning the current generation of students and others in their late teens are not protected.

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