UKST would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the Campanini family, who alongside their other tireless fund and awareness raising for us, held a ‘Jog for Gini’ event on Saturday 14th September.
Participants took on a 5K run or walk, followed by a picnic, at Cassiobury Park, Watford.
Gina’s mother described the day as: “A joyful day in the sunshine, remembering our girl with family and friends.”
Our Support Nurse Katie also attended, and said: “What a wonderful day! It was lovely to meet all of Gina’s family and friends face to face and walk together in wall-to-wall sunshine in such a lovely setting.”
The 14th was the first anniversary of Gina Campanini’s passing from sepsis at the young age of 30.
Gina was a fit, healthy and vibrant primary school teacher when she was taken sick with flu-like symptoms, which quickly led to a Strep A ‘super infection’.
Since Gina’s passing, her family have taken on a number of fundraising challenges, from a sponsored dance class to a Three Peaks Challenge. Other challenges include her sister Maria running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon and her close friend Fleur Harman completing six triathlons in six counties. Her cousin Sophie will be running the Windsor Half-Marathon for UKST later this month, as well as a team of 6 family members taking part in the London Landmarks Half-Marathon again next April.
Maria has said of her sister’s experience: “It is shocking because I thought that sepsis is when people get a cut and then bacteria gets in and the body has a terrible reaction to it. I’ve always been one of those people that carries antibacterial wipes and Savlon, or Germolene around for every scrape or graze, and I’ve always thought about sepsis in that way. I had no idea it could stem from a chest infection just from breathing in bad bacteria.
If you feel like you’re dying, let it be known. Raise alarm bells. Perhaps if she had gone to hospital sooner, this might have been prevented. But we don’t know. We’ll never know.”
The family have raised over an incredible £20,000 in Gina’s memory – with more to come, as they continue their efforts to prevent unnecessary sepsis deaths.
Donate to their JustGiving page here
Read Gina’s story here
