Joe's Story One Year On
After passing the target of £25,000 you would think Joe’s
supporters and family would be slowing down but 2009 looks like
a very busy year with new ideas coming up to remember Joe’s
story and inspire new people
Matt said “Our amazing little boy’s story has raised over
£48,000.00 in 12 months since the website was launched in June
last year by Cornish company IT-OK and the family, the website
has had over 80,000 hits including every country in the world, a
facebook group of over 2000 members and is also supporting
Steven Johnsons Syndrome suffers in South Africa and Pakistan”.
Joe’s parents are involved at the moment with flying a four year
old boy from Pakistan to the uk for vital medical treatment,
this effort is being co-ordinated by an SJS support group in
Canada, and two other SJS connections in the UK.
The 8 minute DVD telling Joe’s story using TV and radio
interviews as well as video and photos is to be used by
Paediatric Community Services as part of their training
programme for carers and possible also for recruitment.
Allie Mavor who was Joe’s joint agency worker and now helps to
fund raise for Joe brought the idea up of using the DVD as a
training aid.
Joan Gowans who is the Paediatric Community Services Manager
knew Joe and his family from their time in Treliske and she was
also involved in putting together his care package which helped
keep him at home during his final months.
Joan said “The DVD en-captured Joe's vitality and personality
and I feel privileged to be able to use it in staff training. I
hope in the future to be able to use it as part of the
recruitment process so that potential staff can see the types of
children that they will work with and how privileged they are to
be a part of their lives”.
Matt Way Joe’s Dad said “The DVD has been edited to a
professional standard and has been used at corporate
fundraising, School events and other fundraising events as well
as featuring on Joe’s website. This is great news that his story
will hopefully inspire carers who become so key in making sure
family’s as well as the child are supported through difficult
times”.
Scott Dickinson a family friend who designs Joe’s posters and
banners spent hours editing the photo’s and video to match in
with a radio interview Joe’s Dad did for BBC radio Cornwall he
has also put on some extras of other TV interviews and photo
slide shows.
Claire Joe’s mum said “it’s very powerful to watch but as always
with Joe’s story you feel inspired to do something positive
rather than sad”.
Update on Joe's Den at the Bristol Ronald McDonald House
Joseph’s family and friends raised over Three Thousand Pounds for The
Bristol Based Charity and chose to sponsor one of the charity’s sixteen
bedrooms. Since the naming of “Joseph’s Den”, nearly 50 families have
used the bedroom.
The Charity manager at Ronald McDonald House, Bristol said “Joseph’s
life had so much impact on so many people. We are honoured to have a
bedroom named in Joseph’s memory”.
Joes mum Claire said “The house was a real help during the worst of
times and to have a room named after Joe is wonderful. Hopefully Joes
fight and spirit will help give families using the room hope”
The money has been raised by family, collection tins, business donations
from abroad as well as locally including Newquay Lions and Hendra
Holiday Park where the family live.
Joe’s grandparents in Cheshire had colleagues from around the world
making donations after seeing his story in the National UK papers.
A third of the money was raised from payments from national newspapers
and magazine articles about Joes condition including Closer magazine
circulated in the UK and its New Zealand equivalent.
Joe’s dad Matt said “families from Cornwall and the South West have all
benefited from the room which is great”.
To learn more about the charity go to www.rmhbristol.com or contact
Denise Johnson-Carr on 0117 908 1375