A Stirling woman is to take part in the Kiltwalk to raise awareness for sepsis research in memory of her sister who lost her life aged just 37.
Lea Haney and her aunt Barbara McCartney - also known as Babs - are taking part in the annual walking fundraiser to support the Sepsis Research FEAT charity, the only UK charity dedicated to finding treatments for the potentially deadly condition.
It’s the latest in a series of fundraisers by Lea for the charity since the sudden death of Elaine from sepsis in May 2021, which have also included an event at the Kilted Kangaroo in Stirling which secured £4,000.
Lea has shared Elaine’s story with the Observer in an effort to raise greater awareness of sepsis and some of the key signs people should look out for.
She said: “Elaine initially had a sore throat and it just kind of escalated from there and none of us really knew the severity of it.
“She went into hospital and got a throat spray and some tablets but she just started deteriorating and by the Friday night, she couldn’t take the tablets because her tongue was swelling.
“She woke up with her wee boy who was four and her tongue was covered in pus and she had to bite her tongue and she was blue lighted to hospital; she was in a coma within an hour of biting her tongue.
“We knew at the time it was some sort of infection and when you look at it, every sign was there [for sepsis] but we didn’t understand.
“This walk isn’t just about money, it’s more about awareness because nobody knows what sepsis is and it affects so many people.”
Sepsis is believed to kill around five people per hour in the UK, occurring when the body’s response to an infection spirals out of control, leading it to injure its own tissues and organs and eventually leading to multiple organ failure and death.
The charity has published a list of five key symptoms to look out if you suspect sepsis.
These are; confusion; not passing as much urine as normal; very high or low temperature; uncontrolled shivering; and cold or blotchy arms and legs.
Lea continued: “Sepsis isn’t really advertised enough and folk don’t really understand it too much, they know about cancers but not about sepsis and it is one of the worst killers out there.
“I was shocked with the amount we raised at the Kilted Kangaroo and then we also had a raffle on Sepsis Awareness Day which raised £485 so that was great as well.
“People were asking me what I was doing for my sister’s second anniversary and I knew it was hard doing something the first time. Auntie Barbara said she was doing the Kiltwalk this year so I said I would do it alongside her.”
Colin Graham, chief operating officer at Sepsis Research FEAT, said: “A huge thank you to Lea and Babs for so generously raising money to help Sepsis Research FEAT’s work. Fundraising events like the Kiltwalk play a vital role in the fight against sepsis.
“As Sepsis Research FEAT marks its 10th anniversary this year, we’re asking you to consider joining Lea and Babs in being part of our birthday celebrations and raising money to support an important cause.”
