A BRADFORD man who survived meningitis wants to start an awareness campaign on the deadly infection.

Jazz Gill was nine years old when he was diagnosed with the condition, and he spent two years in hospital and a wheelchair as he fought against it.

Now aged 27, Mr Gill wants to increase awareness and knowledge of the "silent killer". He has set up a fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/jaspalgill in an attempt to get his campaign off the ground.

"Meningitis is a silent killer, awareness is not out there and not strong enough for people to know exactly what to look out for," said Mr Gill, who was born and brought up in Bradford.

"I want to raise money to be the face of my own meningitis awareness campaign as I nearly lost my life to meningitis. I always said when I was younger if I survive and when I'm older I would love to give something back and help save lives and be the voice to the ones suffering.

"I am looking at raising as much money as possible for me to be the face of a new meningitis campaign that I want to promote nationally to save people's live and to save amputation.

"I want to create billboard campaigns, TV adverts and more to put the message out. I was a lucky one and the managed to save my leg but 19 years down the line life is still a major struggle and I'm still undergoing surgery for the meningitis aftermath."

The condition failed Mr Gill's kidney, gave him blood poisoning, put him in a coma for seven days, caused memory loss and he almost lost a foot, among other things.

Mr Gill, who was treated for the condition at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said he went to bed as normal after a Christmas party at home and woke on Boxing Day with his eyes rolled back in his head and not responding to anyone.

He added: "I want to raise awareness nationally as well as going into schools and advising kids of these health matters and making them aware as they don't always tell parents their problems.

"I also want to give a lot of my time to current sufferers and visit their bedsides for support and help the hospitals buy any new machines they may need to save this person's life.

"I want to be the face and voice of this campaign via every channel and avenue I can. I want to give back my life experience to save other people's lives.

"I am just happy to have both my legs and, even though with great difficulty, I still manage day to day to smile and thank God I am here and alive today. This campaign will help me get the message out that meningitis is the silent killer but I am the voice to make sure you never give up."

Donate to Mr Gill's cause by visiting www.gofundme.com/jaspalgill or https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/jaspal-gill.