Wigan boy, 7, who battled meningitis takes part in sleep-out

A plucky Wigan seven-year-old who battled meningitis was among those to sleep out under the stars for the homeless.

Archie Musgrave and parents Kate and Joe pitched their tent in the back garden of their Hindley Green home for a sleep-out organised by The Brick.

The charity asked residents to camp out overnight in the Big Back Garden Sleep to help those without a roof over their heads or facing poverty.

And Archie, who has made an excellent recovery since contracting meningitis B in 2018, and his parents were keen to help others as they have received so much support from the public themselves.

Kate said: “Archie gets so much support off everybody for his charity events for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital so we like to support quite a lot of charities too. It was a bit odd, we were very tired in the morning. Normally if we go camping it is fine but it felt different in the back garden.”

The Brick usually gets supporters to sleep out on the street overnight to raise money but that could not happen this year due to Covid-19. The event was revamped so people could support the organisation at home as demand for its services has gone up alarmingly in the last few weeks.

Archie and his family have also had to stop their fund-raising activities for the charity of the hospital whose intensive care unit cared for him. Around 40 people had been due to take part in a sponsored climb up Helvellyn in the Lakes last month but that had to be postponed.

Archie was also going to have a couple of further operations on his feet and legs but Kate says she is now unsure when that will happen. Due to Archie’s previous health issues Kate says the family are taking no chances during the lockdown and he is doing well at his Richmond Road home.