Dion Hodder, affectionately known as D to his mates and Dion Ty when he was in trouble with his mum, was taken from his family in October 2018 by meningococcal septicaemia at the tender age of 16.

In the days before his death, Dion had just a bit of a cough. He was very body aware and insisted he didn’t need a doctor — “they’re just gonna say it’s a virus and I need to rest.” Trusting his instincts, he went ahead with plans for a St John cadet camp. But once there, things changed quickly. Dion began vomiting, had very little appetite, and just wasn’t himself — unusual for a teenage boy who was normally full of energy.

Within 24 hours he was critically unwell and airlifted to Auckland Hospital. By the time his family reached him, blotching had appeared on his skin and machines were keeping him alive. Only six hours after arriving at hospital, Dion’s heart stopped. His family said goodbye far too soon.

Since that day, his mum Todd has been determined to make a difference — to raise awareness of meningococcal disease and help prevent other families from suffering the same devastating loss. This October, she will walk 172.6 km from Oamaru to Ashburton along SH1, honouring Dion’s memory with every step.