BRAVE little Lauren Booth has been campaigning with her mum to raise awareness of the disease that nearly killed her.

Lauren, 6, of Haydock Close, Chippenham, was only six weeks old when she contracted the potentially lethal group B strain of Meningitis and was in the Bath Royal United Hospital for three weeks after she stopped breathing.

Lauren's mum Lisa-Jayne, 37, has now made it her mission to raise awareness of the disease and fundraise for the Meningitis Trust.

She and her family released 21 balloons, to mark each year the trust has been going, and gave out pamphlets in Chippenham on Saturday.

She said: "It is so important that people realise there is more to this disease than just the rash.

"Lauren didn't even have the rash when she was diagnosed with the disease and so it's not the be all and end all about the disease.

"It was purely mothers intuition which made me take her to the hospital - I knew something was wrong with my baby and I had to do something.

"She has been left deaf in one ear, has a weakness down her left side and has memory and speech problems but she doesn't let her down.

"She was out with us telling people about her struggle and giving out balloons to the kids.

"This disease doesn't just single out children, the over 55's are also a high risk age group.

"The whole point of the balloon launch was to raise the awareness of the disease and tell people about the early warning signs."

Mrs Booth was out on the Town Bridge campaigning with Lauren, her nine-year old son Aaron and husband Paul, 40.

Michael Auton, who works for the trust, said: "This was a brilliant way to not only fundraise but to raise awareness of the early symptoms for parents.

"It is essential that people are aware not only what to look for but what action to take if they think they or their children may have the disease.

"Aside from the rash, the disease manifests itself in the form of headaches, neck cramps, aversion to light and general sickness."

Mrs Booth and her family raised £457 for the trust during their five and a half hour campaign.

She has been involved with the trust since Lauren's illness started and even received a special bike for Lauren to use in 2004 as a result of their persistent fundraising.

Mrs Booth is currently arranging a barn dance in November and a cycle ride from London to Paris in July.