A MUM whose son and husband were both nearly killed when they caught meningitis is to run the London Marathon to help raise money for research into the disease.

Rachel Ibbotson, of Mayfair Gardens in Woodford Green, experienced every parent’s nightmare four years ago when her baby Seb caught the deadly illness - just like her husband did when he was a child.

Ms Ibbotson, who was pregnant at the time with her second child, began to fear the worse when her 13-month-old failed to respond to doctors after being rushed to hospital.

The 30-year-old, who works as a personal trainer, hopes her participation in the gruelling 26-mile race will raise £1,000 for charity Meningitis UK, which is working to develop a vaccine for the deadly bug.

She said: “I just want to do everything I can to help stop other families going through what we did.”

When he first fell ill, her son Seb was diagnosed with a chest infection, leading his doctor to prescribe him a course of antibiotics.

But when Seb showed no signs of improvement the next day his mother began to worry.

She recalled: “Later that day his hands and feet were very cold so I trusted my instincts and went back, this time seeing a different doctor.

“She could tell Seb was badly dehydrated so told me to take him to Whipps Cross Hospital, where they decided to keep him in overnight on a drip.

“He just wasn’t responding at all. He was grey and looked dead already. Finally a lumbar puncture confirmed he had pneumococcal meningitis.

“My husband had meningitis when he was seven, which left him in a coma so we knew it was life-threatening. Although we were frightened, at least the doctors knew what it was and how to treat it.

They said if Seb had been treated any later then it could have been fatal.”

Her young son spent the next week in hospital, but luckily managed to pull through. He suffered after-effects for the next year but he is now a happy five-year-old pupil at St Albans school in Woodford Green.

Ms Ibbotson added: “Hundreds of others aren’t so fortunate which is why it’s so important to fund research into finding a vaccine and preventing future heartache.”

Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after his son Spencer died from the disease, said: “Rachel’s running efforts are really remarkable. We’re very thankful to her, not just for taking part in the marathon but also for sharing Seb’s story and helping to raise awareness of the disease.”

Meningitis kills around 300 people every year in the UK and can kill in under four hours.

For more information contact Meningitis UK by visiting meningitisuk.org or by phone on 0117 373 7373.

To sponsor Rachel, go to justgiving.com/rachelibbotson The London Marathon is on Sunday April 26.