A family’s efforts to fight the disease that took Leamington mum

MHLC-02-01-13 Lauren Tribute Jan12 The friends and family of Lauren Taylor have paid tribute to the 18-year-old by laying flowers and launching sky lanterns at Campion School.
Lauren, a mother-of-one, died on New Year's Eve. — MHLC-02-01-13 Lauren Tribute Jan12 The friends and family of Lauren Taylor have paid tribute to the 18-year-old by laying flowers and launching sky lanterns at Campion School. Lauren, a mother-of-one, died on New Year's Eve.

Lauren Anne Taylor, a mother of one-year-old Ryley, was only 18 when she died on December 31 - just hours after being admitted to hospital.

Now her father Michael, aunt Carly, cousin Danni and uncle Mark are plucking up the courage to do a parachute jump next month to raise funds for Meningitis UK in her memory.

And the family are also hosting an Ann Summers Ladies Night at Kenilworth Sports and Social Club tomorrow (Saturday) night to raise further funds for the cause.

Michael Taylor said little Ryley, who is currently living with him, will be at the jump, which takes place in Nottingham on July 5, “wearing his Meningitis UK t-shirt with pride”.

He added: “Before we lost Lauren, I associated meningitis to young children and babies and a rash that is still visible under a glass. This is such limited knowledge - we need to get the awareness of the symptoms out their to help prevent another young child from losing his mummy.

“Lauren was very precious and such delight to know and so easy to love and adore. It breaks our hearts to think back to that day when we thought she had just got a severe headache. We never gave menigitis a second thought until it was too late to help her.”

Any adult women can attend the Ann Summers night tomorrow, which starts at 7.30pm. Entry £5. To contribute to the Taylors’ fundraising, see meningitisuk.tributefunds.com/fund/lauren+anne+taylor