Dear Editor, - Meningitis UK is launching its second national Mini Maskathon campaign this week and would like to invite local nursery and pre-schools groups to take part.

How the event works is simple yet fun. The children decorate masks to a theme of their nursery's choice such as wild animals, letters of the alphabet, fairytales or cartoon characters and then do a sponsored walk, march, hop, skip or jump around their local playground, park or community hall to raise money for the charity.

The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness of meningitis among the high-risk under-five age group and to raise money to fund research into finding a vaccine to eradicate the disease.

Sadly, meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia continue to kill more children under five than any other infectious disease. In the absence of a vaccine to protect against all strains of the disease, knowing the symptoms and acting quickly can save lives.

Each nursery/pre-school group taking part will receive a free fundraising pack to help them get started including sing aloud CDs, mask templates, posters, certificates, sticky badges and sponsorship forms.

There are also some fabulous prizes up for grabs through a competition to find the groups imaginative events to raise money, plus each group that raises over £100 will be entered into a free draw!

As summer approaches, taking part in the Mini Maskathon is a perfect way to put the children's creative talents into practice, whilst making the most of the sunshine and helping to support Meningitis UK at the same time.

The campaign is due to be launched on Monday, June 5th and will run until the beginning of the summer holidays on Friday July 21st 2006.

If any of your readers would like to take part or find out more please phone Emily Knight at meningitis UK on 0117 3737373 or e-mail emilyknight@menigitisuk.org

Emily Knight Community fundraising officer Meningitis UK