We’re here to support families who are suffering the trauma caused by meningitis and sepsis

Families we have supported

When we lost our 6-year-old son Ollie in October 2017 to bacterial meningitis we were in shock and devastated. A friend suggested contacting Steve. Steve was like a lifeline in those first few weeks. He drove across the country to visit us, offered words of comfort and support and we instantly felt less alone in our grief. Throughout the following months Steve was there to reach out to, he would often check in via a phone call and continues to do so. I now consider him to be a dear friend.
Georgie, Norwich

We are forever grateful for the support and compassion Steve gave us when he visited us a few days after we lost our son Mark. Thank you for keeping in touch and for all you have done for meningitis research and awareness.
Lesley & John, Northampton

Steve was on one of his marathon walks when I called him. I was completely lost and heartbroken after losing my beautiful daughter Clara to pneumococcal meningitis. He didn’t try to stop me crying, he just listened as I talked about my daughter. Steve came straight to see us as soon as his walk was over, he genuinely cared about what we were going through and helped us make sense of everything. Steve is the reason we continue to fundraise to support vital preventative research.
Claire & Stefan, York

Loosing Kevin from meningitis within hours of being diagnosed left myself and our daughters in an unimaginable position. Steve getting in touch helped so much, here was someone who really understood what we were going through.22 years later he is still in our lives.
Lesley, Guisborough

Steve showed us the way through after we lost Ashley. We will be forever grateful to him and his wife Gloria. We continue our fight together to defeat meningitis and sepsis.
Tracy, Shepton Mallett

Steve you were my first contact after we lost Edward. I will always be grateful for your time, advice and company and happy to call you a friend.
Liz, Lytham St Annes

Thank you, Steve, for all the support and love you have given us over the years since we lost our son Thomas.
Rachel, Halifax.

Thank you for coming to see us in our darkest hour, I will never forget what you did for our family and motivating us to push for our dear Hope 4 Harmonie. We will forever support your vital work
Hannah, Bristol.

Thank you on behalf of my family for all you did for us when we lost our beautiful Corrine. You have walked the journey with us.
Jackie, Nottingham.

Steve visited us within days of us losing our son, when we were struggling to believe that such despair could be survived. Our son had died at the same age and in similar circumstances to Steve’s own son. He knew what to say, he gave us advice that stuck with us through our darkest days, and he gave us hope. To this day we call him a life saver.
Neil & Jules, Leek, Staffs

Our world fell apart when our Hugo died. Steve has been a tremendous support at a time where we needed the most help when we were dealing with our grief and loss. He understood how we felt, and his kind words and visits really comforted us.
Eva & Simon, Epsom.

After losing Jamie, we could see no light our complete world was in darkness. Steve entered our life soon after and it was through his amazing charity work that we started to see the light again. Knowing that Steve and Gloria had once went through what we were going through gave us back a bit of hope. We focused on raising money for meningitis and that helped us get through the following months and years. We continue to support Steve and the charity to this day, 18 years later.
Emma & Darren, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Its nearly 30 years since you visited us at our Teashop in the Yorkshire Dales. You gave us the strength and support to go forward. You are an inspiration to us all.
Richard & Caroline, Leyburn

Meeting Steve and him sharing his experiences, gave us a sense that we were not alone at a time when we were in shock and struggling to understand what had happened to our family. He gave us hope that in time we would adjust to a new reality and learn to cope.
Mark & Vicky, Leeds

Steve very kindly came to visit us when we lost our darling granddaughter at Christmas time 2012. He explained quite a few questions that we had and offered us ongoing support if and whenever we might need it. At a time of great sorrow only someone who had been through the same can really “get through” to your mind and heart, so he really did give us what we needed at that terrible time.
Eve, Mold, North Wales

In 1999 when we lost our fourteen-year-old son so suddenly to meningitis. We were in a very deep and broken-hearted way, numbed by shock and with no idea how to deal with ourselves or life. The Spencer Dayman Charity reached out to us, and we invited Steve into our home. With his quiet, respectful empathetic style he was able to help us learn to start to find a way through this tragedy.
Jackie, Bognor Regis

We first met Steve on a local leg of one of his many marathon walks, soon after losing our son Michael in 2015. Since that time has been a great support not just us but all our family for which we are very grateful.
Lynne, Driffield

I will never forget the day Steve came to Addenbrookes Hospital when our daughter Nicole was so ill. It meant the absolute world to us, he listened to our worries and was so kind.
Bev & Wayne, Ely

In the very early days of losing my beautiful daughter Lauren aged 19 to meningitis, I was living in a haze of disbelief and numbness and not knowing what to do with myself. I received an email from Steve introducing himself in a very caring and empathetic way, having lost his own precious child Spencer to meningitis. Steve drove down from Bristol to visit me in Bournemouth, he became a great lifeline when I was feeling desperate. I knew I could pick the phone up at any time. My family and I are so grateful for his help and support over the years.
Helen, Bournemouth

When we lost our daughter Rubie, Steve was one of the first people to get in touch. He knew what we needed to hear and asked questions that others were too scared to ask. He gave us hope and inspiration for our “new normal” His kindness and support didn’t end that first visit. He keeps in touch, and I am proud to call him my friend.
Kerry, Uttoxeter

When Sam died in March 2008 aged 2 years after contracting meningitis, Steve was the first person to reach out to me and my family and offer his support. 14 years later he continues to offer insight, support and friendship, which has been invaluable in dealing with the tragic loss of Sam.
Sue, Berkeley, Glos

Steve was the first contact we had outside of our family when Reggie died. Feeling lost and numb, Steve told us his journey and the future we were now to embark on. Steve had the same pain that no other could ever understand. This gave us immense comfort and a continued friendship.
Chantal and Adam, Brighton

I messaged Steve Dayman’s mobile number the day before Eilidh’s funeral, and Steve called me back almost straight away. He was kind, concerned and importantly someone who understood what we were going through. He made us aware of the financial aid that was available to us should we need it and arranged to come visit us at home a few weeks later.
Ann Marie and Stuart, Kinross, Scotland

When Steve visited us soon after we lost our son Kadyn, he straight away started talking about him. I remember relief at this point. He wasn’t here to talk about the charity, he was with us parent to parent. We talked about the same grief and how we could comprehend moving forward. We felt at ease as if we had always known each other.
Nicola & Tony. Milford Haven, West Wales

When we lost our 6-year-old son Ollie in October 2017 to bacterial meningitis we were in shock and devastated. A friend suggested contacting Steve. Steve was like a lifeline in those first few weeks. He drove across the country to visit us, offered words of comfort and support and we instantly felt less alone in our grief. Throughout the following months Steve was there to reach out to, he would often check in via a phone call and continues to do so. I now consider him to be a dear friend.
Georgie, Norwich

We are forever grateful for the support and compassion Steve gave us when he visited us a few days after we lost our son Mark. Thank you for keeping in touch and for all you have done for meningitis research and awareness.
Lesley & John, Northampton

Steve was on one of his marathon walks when I called him. I was completely lost and heartbroken after losing my beautiful daughter Clara to pneumococcal meningitis. He didn’t try to stop me crying, he just listened as I talked about my daughter. Steve came straight to see us as soon as his walk was over, he genuinely cared about what we were going through and helped us make sense of everything. Steve is the reason we continue to fundraise to support vital preventative research.
Claire & Stefan, York