A MOTHER who suffered the heartbreak of losing her baby daughter to meningitis earlier this year is on a mission to help raise awareness of the illness.

Faye Murray, 23, lost 17-month-old daughter Shakira Louise suddenly during the night after arriving for a family holiday in Wales five months ago.

Since the tragedy, Faye and partner Paul have been working to help raise awareness, holding a charity football match in June in aid of the Meningitis Charity Research Foundation.

And last week saw The Steve Prescott Bridge light up in purple to mark Meningitis Awareness Week.

It is estimated there are around 3,200 cases of meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form of the disease, every year in the UK.

"It was lovely going on to the bridge when it was lit up, I was crying," said Faye, from Windle.

"It was just nice to know that something was done for us.

"When Shakira died it came on quickly. We got to Wales for 10.30pm on the night and she was taken ill by midnight. She was lifeless when we got to the hospital.

"It was the first time we had gone away together; the children had never been anywhere before," added Faye, who is also mum to six-year-old son Kai.

Faye says she takes regular trips to Wales at weekends to help her feel close to her daughter and has been fundraising for a memorial plaque for Shakira at St Helens Cemetery.

There are plans for a charity rugby match and a 'meningitis run' next year.

"I want to raise awareness as much as I can," added Faye, who is expecting another child on April 23 next year, which would exactly a year after Shakira's passing away.