Play Away Nursery, part of the Funcare Ltd group of Harrogate Nurseries, will be taking part in this year’s Toddle Waddle, the annual fundraiser for The Meningitis Trust, with the toddlers themselves raising funds for what is a very important cause.

Taking place on 15th May, The Toddle Waddle is a fun way for under-5s to help to raise awareness of meningitis with their very own sponsored walk through Harrogate’s wonderful Valley Gardens.

Although meningitis can affect anyone, of any age, at any time, over half of the reported cases are in children under the age of 5. Toddle Waddle was created to engage this age group and their parents, grandparents, nursery teachers and child minders – thus spreading awareness of the disease and its signs and symptoms where it is needed.

The under-5s are an ‘at risk’ group for the disease, with meningitis killing more of this age group than any other infectious disease in the UK. It’s not hard to see why it’s also the disease that parents fear the most.

Toddle Waddle organiser Steve Williams of The Meningitis Trust says: “Over the last eight years, this event has raised £2million for the Trust. With no Government funding, we rely on voluntary donations to continue our work. Events such as Toddle Waddle are essential to raising these funds. Toddle Waddle not only raises vital funds to help in the fight against meningitis, but it also promotes important awareness of the disease.”

Though the purpose of the event is to raise money for a very serious cause, the Toddle Waddle itself is a fun event for all the family, with toddlers and other under-5s waddling alongside their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters in a party atmosphere.

For more details, please email playaway@funcareltd.co.uk