A MUM who lost both legs and the majority of her hands to meningitis will host a Christmas craft fair to raise money for a charity dedicated to tackling the devastating disease.

Craft-loving Christine Carter and her daughter Lindsey Benson will host the Christmas event at the Swan Inn, Thornbury, on Saturday, November 22 and money raised will be donated to Thornbury-based international charity, Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

Christine said: “We are delighted that this year the Christmas Fair will have over 30 crafters exhibiting their high quality handmade products.

"The fairs give us an opportunity to make people more aware of meningitis and septicaemia, and how quickly they strike and can be mistaken for milder illnesses like flu in the winter. Everyone needs to be aware of the symptoms.”

Christine, of Thornbury, became a Meningitis Ambassador after contracting Group A streptococcal septicaemia on New Year’s Eve 2010. She has since held six craft fairs raising over £7,500 for MRF.

“After I had septicaemia in 2010 and lost my legs and most of my hands, Lindsey and I decided we wanted to raise money for much needed research so we set about organising craft fairs,” she said.

“The fairs have become well established within the local crafting community and tables sell out very quickly. We have a waiting list of those wishing to sign up. It’s an ideal way of showcasing local talent. Crafters must live within 10 miles of Thornbury and have made their own products.”

MRF chief executive Chris Head praised the pair’s fundraising efforts saying the money they have raised has helped to fund important research into the prevention and treatment of the diseases.

He said: “Christine sadly has first-hand experience of how quickly meningitis and septicaemia can strike and how difficult they are to diagnose and treat.

“The craft fairs that she and Lindsey have organised in the past three years have raised a huge amount of money which has helped us to continue to fund our vital work into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia.”

Visitors to the craft fair will also have the chance to win a fabulous Christmas cake made up of 12 individual Christmas cakes donated by local cake maker Liz Pell from Finishing Touches in Thornbury. Guests must correctly guess the weight of the cake to win.

To donate a prize for the raffle or tombola please contact Christine on Thornbury-craft-fair @hotmail.co.uk