A PARALYMPIAN who lost both his legs to meningitis gave youngsters at a Poole school an inspirational talk about his sporting achievements.

Broadstone Middle School invited wheelchair rugby player Aaron Phipps after Year 5 pupil Megan McClure, who also contracted the disease, suggested a fundraising day for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Aaron, who played for Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, told pupils about his sporting career before challenging Year 8 pupils to a PE lesson.

He contracted Meningitis C at the age of 16, and after being in a controlled coma for two weeks, both his legs and most of his fingers had to be amputated.

Following a period of adaptation to his life-changing situation, he started participating in wheelchair races, including two London Marathons. Later on, he took up wheelchair rugby and was soon competing with the Great Britain squad.

Assistant head Sarah Hitchings said: “As part of their fundraising for the Meningitis Research Foundation, Broadstone Middle School were proud and pleased to welcome Aaron Phipps to their school.

“Aaron inspired the pupils with tales of his exploits including wheelchair rugby, 2012 Paralympics and marathon racing, encouraging to make the most of every opportunity. Aaron also challenged a group of pupils to put him through his paces completing a number of circuit activities during a physical education lesson.”

She added a non-uniform day and a cake sale raised a total of £945.07 for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Aaron, Megan and her mum, Nicky, are all ambassadors for the charity. Nicky praised the school for their support with the fundraising day.

“They’ve been absolutely brilliant,” she said. “They made sure the whole school could hear Aaron speak. He was incredible, the pupils were completely enthralled by him and didn’t move a muscle throughout the talk.

“It was a very positive experience for the school hearing how much he’s achieved, and all the children were going up to him afterwards to tell him how inspiring he was.”

Nine-year-old Megan spoke to her fellow pupils about her own experience with meningitis. She was diagnosed with Group B streptococcal meningitis when she was just three days old, spending ten days in hospital undergoing treatment. Nicky said it was thanks to the quick reactions of doctors and the midwife, Megan recovered.

“We are incredibly lucky to have a happy, healthy daughter who now works really hard for charity to raise awareness about this disease,” she added.