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A seven-year-old girl has scaled south Wales’ highest peak to raise more than £5,000 for a meningitis charity following her own battle.
Noa‑Rose Alderman, from Cefn Fforest, climbed Pen y Fan on Saturday March 14 alongside family and friends to support the charity Meningitis Now.
When Noa‑Rose was just four years old, she was diagnosed with Type B meningitis. After a few weeks in the hospital, she was discharged, but her life has been very different since.
She suffered life‑changing, long‑term effects after meningitis, making her recovery extremely challenging.
During her recovery, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and tics, both secondary to her meningitis. These conditions disrupt her brain’s electrical patterns, affecting her sleep, learning, and behavioural development.
Since her release from hospital, Noa‑Rose and her family have been strongly supported by Meningitis Now – a charity supporting people with first or second‑hand experience of meningitis.
The charity has been running for 30 years and provides emotional support, practical help, financial assistance, and vital information to families affected by the disease.
Since its founding, Meningitis Now has invested nearly £13 million in early‑stage research.
Recent events in Kent, where two people have died following a meningitis outbreak, show just how serious meningitis can be.
Noa‑Rose’s mother, Emma Alderman, told Caerphilly Observer: “The climb was hard and emotional, but we had an overwhelming amount of support. There were 43 of us in total climbing on Saturday, and that meant the world to us.
“On the way to the top, I saw Billy Billingham, who is part of the SAS: Who Dares Wins training team, and I was delighted to speak to him and explain why we were there.
“He was really nice and understanding, and we even got a photo with him at the top.”
Describing the day Noa-Rose was admitted to hospital in December 2022, Emma admitted she had never once considered meningitis as a possibility.
“It was just a normal day,” explained Emma. “In the morning she was in the park, but by the evening she was fighting for her life.
“We were in A&E for six hours, as everyone assumed it was Hepatitis A, which was very common at the time. It wasn’t until one set of tests came back that the hospital staff had to act instantly to save her life.”
Emma recalled one moment when her daughter was in critical condition: “At one point, her breathing changed, and I thought I was going to lose her.”
Since returning home, Noa‑Rose’s life has been very different to that of other children her age.
Her mum praised her strength and courage throughout her battle, but revealed that her daughter’s future remains uncertain as she undergoes tests for ESES (Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep) – a rare epilepsy‑related sleep pattern that affects the brain.
“If she is diagnosed with ESES, then Noa‑Rose may need surgery, otherwise it could seriously affect her brain and result in neurological regression.
“Her day-to-day life is much different to any other seven-year-old. She takes 21 tablets of medication daily and regularly suffers from fatigue. She can’t go to sleepovers at her friends’ houses and overall, she’s had to grow up much faster than others her age.”
Emma is now going the extra mile to spread awareness of how dangerous meningitis is and what signs to look out for.
“I will be going into local comprehensive schools and producing presentations that help raise as much awareness around meningitis as possible.
“For me, it is all about making sure that other people do not have to go through the same thing my family and I did.”
Emma will also be at the Bargoed Spring Fair on Saturday March 21, handing out cards and leaflets to spread awareness.
Visit JustGiving to make a donation to Noa-Rose’s cause.
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