The chief executive of Meningitis Now said he is "confident we will beat" the disease with support like that shown by Great Western Railway (GWR) this week.

The railway company has joined forces with the leading meningitis charity to help raise awareness and fight against the disease.

On Tuesday, October 1, Meningitis Now supporters joined a dedicated carriage on the 9.59am service from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington, calling at Stroud, where the charity is based.

Meningitis Now supporters travel from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on Tuesday, October 1Meningitis Now supporters travel from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on Tuesday, October 1 (Image: Meningitis Now) During the journey, they shared their experiences of meningitis with other supporters and underlined the importance of World Meningitis Day, held on October 5, in combating the deadly disease.

Tom Nutt, Meningitis Now’s chief executive, said: "Meningitis Now’s work is crucial to supporting lives affected by this devastating disease.

"By joining forces today with GWR we have been able to reach many people across the region as people must know the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

"We’re so grateful to our president Lisa Snowdon and to GWR, and our many volunteers for helping in this day of action.

Meningitis Now supporters travel from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on Tuesday, October 1Meningitis Now supporters travel from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on Tuesday, October 1 (Image: Meningitis Now) "We’re grateful to GWR for their support in helping us raise such valuable awareness and engaging and educating their passengers, staff and the public in this way ahead of World Meningitis Day on Saturday, October 5."

World Meningitis Day seeks to raise awareness of the disease, encourage those affected to tell their stories, and light the way ahead to defeat meningitis.

At stations along the line, including Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Didcot Parkway and Reading, the charity’s volunteers will also raise awareness of meningitis and its symptoms and explain the support available from Meningitis Now.

Meningitis Now supporters travel from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on Tuesday, October 1Meningitis Now supporters travel from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on Tuesday, October 1 (Image: Meningitis Now) The charity will be calling on supporters and its partners to sign a special ‘pledge board’ designed in the style of an enormous train ticket, pledging to help Meningitis Now "light the tracks ahead" and join the global initiative to reduce cases of the disease.

Mr Nutt said the charity was "particularly" grateful to GWR and Network Rail for "their grand gesture in lighting up Paddington Station on Saturday, which promises to be spectacular".

He added: “We hope people around the UK will join us in lighting the way ahead this World Meningitis Day and remember those whose lives have been devastated by this disease.

"Meningitis is a devastating disease which can strike quickly, but with support like this we are confident we will beat it."