Our 9 year old son, Monty, contracted Pneumococcal Meningitis when he was 6 weeks old. For a while it was touch and go but against the odds, he survived. He was one of the lucky ones. He did not escape unscathed and he is living with the consequences of this brutal and indiscriminate disease (not least in his current battle against a debilitating and hugely distressing neurological condition). But fundamentally, he is a normal, happy, funny, giving and loving son and brother. And most importantly, he is here. Many other children and their families are not so fortunate.

Please support me and my friends (Paxton's Pedallers) in giving all you can to help prevent this deadly disease through research, vaccination and education. 

For those affected, Meningitis truly is one of life's 'Black Swan' events:

Verse 1
Unannounced, out of the blue, an ordinary autumn night
A small defenceless infant boy, a sense that something wasn't right
You cast your shadow on him, you came looking for a fight
What was the point, what had he done to you?

Chorus
Black swan
Why did you come?
You brought such pain to everyone, you tried to take our baby son
With fragile strength he battled on, defiantly he fought and won
Now you have gone...
Black swan

Verse 2
Dark traumatic days and weeks, a sense of utter helplessness
Feeling numb, the time stood still, trying to find resourcefulness
Gradually emboldened by his sheer courageousness
You did your worst but he was pulling through

Chorus
Black swan
Why did you come?
You brought such pain to everyone, you tried to take our baby son
With fragile strength he battled on, defiantly he fought and won
Now you have gone...
Black swan

Verse 3
Against the odds, back from the brink, the answer to our desperate prayers
Slowly he was getting strong - relief and joy beyond compare
His beaming smile that compensates for all the dark despair
Your shadow's gone, his spirit's beaten you

End Chorus 
Black swan
Now you have gone...
Throughout a pain I'd never known, you failed to take our baby son
With fragile strength he battled on, defiantly he fought and won
Please don't return...
Black swan



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