A NATIONAL campaign to raise awareness of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) has proved a huge success.

The TSS 13 day awareness campaign was set up in memory of a Caerwent teenager Natasha Scott Falber who sadly lost her life to the infection in February 2013.

There were fun runs, cycling challenges, cake sales, art exhibitions, music marathons and more across the 13 days.

The campaign ended last Thursday (26th February) with a concert at the Newport Centre featuring The Wurzels, Wyedean Gospel Choir, WAWWA musical theatre group and a performance from Natasha's mum Mandy Scott and brother Daniel Falber.

Mandy said: "It's been the most amazing time and everyone involved has been wonderful. TSS is definitely being talked about and hopefully will soon be in the school curriculum (sex education) with the help of David Davies MP and William Graham AM."

David Davies MP will bring up the issue in Parliament. He said: "Each year a small number of women and young girls die from TSS as a result of tampon use. Although the figures are thankfully small, for those effected such as the Scotts, who live locally, the consequences are tragic.

"I freely admit I was unaware of this problem before meeting Mandy. I suspect most men and even many women are not aware of it.

"I would certainly support Mandy in encouraging schools to raise awareness of this amongst pupils during the appropriate lessons. People need to be able to recognise the symptoms so that anyone displaying them can be got to a hospital as soon as possible."

A Twitter campaign has been set up called Tash for Tash where people are being invited to take a picture of themselves wearing a fake moustache and post it online with the tag #tashfortash It is hoped that this will raise awareness further for the campaign.

To find out more about TSS and its symptoms, visit: http://www.tssaware.org.uk">www.tssaware.org.uk