Pharmacy Five join Josie's big challenge

Dec 30 2006 By Liz Hands, The Journal

Five pharmacists have joined forces to shed weight to raise funds for The Journal's Josie Grove appeal.

The chemists, who work at Healthcare Plus, Elvaston Road, Ryton, Gateshead, are doing a sponsored slim to raise money for the fund.

They are being joined by two family members - and hope to lose 40lbs between them.

The Journal launched the appeal two weeks ago to raise money for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund.

We are asking readers to either sponsor our columnist David Banks, himself in remission from leukaemia, who is doing his own sponsored slim - or to organise a sponsored event of your own.

Today, the appeal total stands at almost £1,900 after more generous readers sent in donations and sponsorship money.

The cash will go to children's leukaemia charities chosen by Josie and her family.

Josie, 16, of Corbridge, Northumberland, has taken the decision to forgo any further cancer treatment to enjoy the time she has left with her parents Cliff, 46, and Jacqui, 44, and her three siblings - Freddie, 13, Libby, 11, and Charlie, eight months.

Bryan Spurr, pharmacy manager at Healthcare Plus, said: "Josie's story touched all our hearts when we read she had stopped treatment to have quality time with her family.

"It really moved us, particularly at this time of year when we are all focusing on our family and friends."

Bryan, 52, his wife Mandy and 19-year-old daughter Bethany, of Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, and colleagues Wendy Davison, a pharmacy technician, Victoria Helmore, a dispenser, Kay Hetherington, a part-time assistant, and pharmacy student Linda Hameed will all be taking part in the slim.

"It ties in with what we are trying to do professionally, in promoting healthy lifestyles," said Bryan. "During our slim, we're intending to have a week-long promotion urging others to look at how they could improve their own lifestyle."

"Others are going to swim a length for every pound.

"We're asking our family, friends and customers to sponsor us."

Anyone who wants to sponsor the Healthcare Plus team can pop into the chemist to sign their sponsorship form.

• Anyone requiring a sponsorship form for their own event should call The Journal on (0191) 201-6007.

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This is how to help

The Journal is urging readers to get behind our bid to raise money for Josie's fund.

There are two ways you can do your bit to help:

Anyone wishing to sponsor our columnist David Banks in his effort to shed the pounds in aid of the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund should fill in the form here and return it to The Journal, saying how much money you are pledging.

or:

Let us know what fitness-related fundraising method you have come up with yourself to raise cash for The Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund.

We are urging our readers to come up with fundraising ideas - it could be a sponsored swim, a sponsored football match or even a sponsored bungee jump.

Please contact The Journal newsdesk with information of any events - solo or team - you have arranged to help boost the fund.

Sponsorship forms are available by email or post from The Journal.

Anyone wishing to get involved should contact the newsdesk on (0191) 201-6344 or email jnl.newdesk@ncjmedia.co.uk

Send cheques payable to The Dove Trust (registered charity 287401) - Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund written on the back - to The Journal, PO Box 1146, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1ET.

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Donations

Readers who sent donations and sponsorship for the Josie appeal yesterday, bringing the total to £1,872, are...

Miss Keel, Brunswick Green, Newcastle £20;

Mr and Mrs WR Harries, Shilbottle, Alnwick £10;

Mrs B Donaldson, Bedlington £10;

J Armstrong, Embleton, Alnwick £10;

Mike Neville £100;

R Wesley £10;

JA Shipp £10;

Mr & Mrs JK Short, Morpeth, £25;

Mrs W Nicklen, Stannington, Morpeth £10;

F&E Swan, Cornhill-on-Tweed £20;

Margaret Speight, Morpeth £40;

E W Brown, Billingham £10;

S M Lough £15;

Mr R W Day £10;

Mrs E Millen £10;

M Pattison, South Hetton, County Durham £20;

L Webster £10;

Mrs L Barrass, Seaton Delaval, Whitley Bay £10;

Mrs SM Smith £20;

Mrs L Roberts, Stanley, County Durham £10;

James and Margaret Taylor, Widdrington, Morpeth £20;

T Scandle, Mickley, Stocksfield £10;

Mrs M Routledge £100;

G Scorer and family, Acomb, Hexham £200;

J B Allen £10;

AR Bell, Alnwick £50;

Miss PJ Briton £25;

H Telfer, Corbridge, Northumberland £10.