Joe's Room at The Ronald Mcodonald House Bristol

On Tuesday Claire, Megan and Finn joined Grandma, Parpa and Grandma Chris at the Ronald Macdonald House in Bristol. The day had been arranged by the staff to celebrate the naming of a room in the house in remembrance of Joe Way who passed away in May.

Matt and Claire decided to name Joe’s room ‘The Pirates Den’, this seemed appropriate as they had dressed Joe as a pirate on his 4th and last birthday.

This ceremony gave the staff at the house the opportunity to thank Matt and Claire and family and friends for raising over £3000 for the charity. The ceremony commenced with a welcome from Denise the house manager and her team, a plaque in Joe’s honour was then attached to the wall next to the room in which Matt, Claire and Megan spent many emotional weeks.

When the plaque had been firmly pressed into place by Megan and Finn we raised our glasses of champagne and toasted Joe. A lunch followed which gave everyone the opportunity to renew friendships. It was a very emotional day for all, particularly for Claire who has bitter-sweet memories of her time in Bristol.

These houses are provided by the Ronald Macdonald Trust but rely totally on donations to provide the day to day running costs. Many people are totally unaware of the support these houses provide until parents have a very sick child who needs specialist care at a hospital which may be hundreds of miles from home. A room, cooking facilities and support are provided at no cost therefore enabling the families to concentrate on the health of their loved one.

A huge thank you to the team at the Bristol house who are very special in that this is not a job for them it is a total commitment to the families in their care.

Claire & Finn say Hi to HDU nurses

Claire paid a visit to Treliske to say hello with Finn Joe’s brother.
She went to several wards to catch up with old friend who nursed Joe and ended up at HDU with Seb who often nursed Joe and Hailey who nursed Joe through his last hours of life with us.

Claire said “Hailey was with us when Joe had SJS and during his last hours, she is a very special nurse”

We cannot thank the staff enough for what they did for Joe and what they continue to do supporting us and the website.

Joe Way - Army of Angels

Click play to watch film.

So many events are coming up in memory of Joe and so many have already happened since he passed away 11 weeks ago.

Joe’s website and the fundraising have taken many forms and include the VIKING who battled for supremacy on the ocean against an ape and a fairy, in a gruelling charity event.
The odd assortment of characters was actually RNLI lifeguards from the Newquay area dressed in an array of costumes as they took on a three-mile paddle.
Using their trademark yellow rescue boards, more than a dozen lifeguards took on the challenge to get from Watergate Bay to Newquay Harbour.
The event was set up to help raise funds for Joe Way in aid of the Precious Lives Appeal to build a children's hospice in Cornwall.

All the participants entered into the competitive spirit by racing the long-haul paddle to be first to the harbour and win a specially made trophy.
Jake Somerville was the first over the line in the hotly contested event, taking just over half-an-hour to get home despite adverse wind conditions.

He won the inaugural Joe Way Memorial Board Paddle trophy, donated by Modern Engravers of Newquay.
The trophy has been named after Joe Way, an inspirational boy who fought through a catalogue of health problems before losing his brave fight in May this year at the age of four.
His parents have set up a website in his name to promote some of the conditions he suffered from, and to raise funds for the Children's Hospice South West Precious Lives appeal to build a Cornish hospice.
Joe's father, Matt Way, went along for the most recent fundraiser on Thursday last week by catching a ride on the back of an RNLI jet-ski to see the lifeguards take on their challenge.

After they were all safely back in harbour, he thanked all those who took part and presented the trophy to Mr Somerville. A spokeswoman for the RNLI said: “The lifeguards have promised that the event will become an annual one to continue raising funds for the Precious Lives appeal.”
Joe’s nurses are back after a successful night surf event to do it again by collecting at the Ripcurl Boardmasters at the Final on Sunday 10th August and at surf stock on Saturday 30th August. Alec Short from surfstock said “we are happy to support the precise lives appeal in memory of Joe” Joe’s dad Matt said “the surfing community are well behind our little hero”.

Newquay mum Chloe mitchell also one of Joe’s godparents her husband Scott and Godparent Dave Brett from London are doing the all new “Cliff Hanger Challenge” at Lusty glaze beach on the 9th August which consists of rock climbing, abseiling and two zip wires” Chloe Mitchell said “Although I’m scared of Heights I going to just go for it and think of Joe” You can sponsor them on line on Joes website.

Allie Mavor who was Joes Joint agency worker is doing a 40 mile bike ride with her son on 10th August and is getting sponsors to donate on line via Joe’s website.

Joe’s story has also featured in national surfing magazine Wavelength with all the surfers that gathered at Fistral to advertise his website with stickers on their surf boards and Cornwall Today magazine which featured his website in their website of the month column.

Radio Cornwall’s James Churchfield also interviewed matt for his radio show and will also be using some of the time spent at the family’s home for a radio documentary which is going out in August about the need for a Hospice in Cornwall. This interview can be listened to on Joe’s site which has a new media page.

Emma Lloyd Appeal Manager for Precious Lives said "The local community has really taken this story to their hearts. The Way family's fundraising and their courage is so inspirational. More and more people are finding out about the Precious Lives Appeal through Joe Way's heartbreaking and moving story."

Joe’s parents said: “The support has inspired us to stay strong and so many people have been touched by Joe’s story and although we miss him so much he is in so many people’s thoughts in really fun and positive ways”

If you have a crazy way to get Joe’s web address out there then email info@joeway.co.uk.