Cricket club staff to go into bat for Josie

Jan 4 2007 By Rhodri Phillips, The Journal

A team of cricket club caterers will be having a ball at work next week while raising money for The Journal's charity appeal.

Staff at the Austin's bar and bistro in Durham County Cricket Club's ground in Chester-le-Street will be dressing down next Tuesday in the name of charity - and some of the men will also be having their legs waxed.

The charity day is being held to raise money for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Appeal.

Josie, 16, of Princes Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, has taken the decision not to have any more treatment for her leukaemia so she can spend the time she has left at home with her family.

The former Queen Elizabeth High School Hexham pupil has already had two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants and aggressive chemotherapy.

Austin's manager Lian Henderson and her crew have joined scores of other readers in their attempt to raise money for Josie's fund.

Lian, 26, from Eastwood, Sacriston, first read about the teenager's story in The Journal last month.

She said: "It is a very touching story. Josie has shown such bravery and courage and is an inspiration to us all. We wanted to do something to help the fund.

"I have been at Austin's nearly a year now and we haven't had any events for charity during that time. This is a one-off for Josie. It shows just how much we have been affected by her outlook on life.

"We wanted to have some fun while raising the money, which is where the dressing down and the leg waxing come in. Everyone working a shift that day will be able to come to work in jeans. Some of the male staff will also be braving the treatment table to have one or both of their legs waxed."

Lian and her team - David Stephens, 19, from Hetton-le-Hole, Alex Hartmann, 21, from Great Lumley, Alex Waites, 17, from Chester-le-Street, who all work at Austin's, and their friend Mark Robson, 21, from Chester-le-Street, will be having their legs waxed.

They will also be dressing down on Tuesday along with Lian and other Austin's staff, including Lianne Tauge, 34, from Pelaw, Kelly Powell, 34, from Chester-le-Street, and Charlie Watson, 19, from Durham.

Josie received a Brave Heart's Award at St James's Park in Newcastle on December 7 and one of our columnists, former Mirror editor David Banks, who lives in Crookham, between Wooler and Coldstream, in Northumberland, was so moved he decided to lose weight to raise money for the fund. He has been joined by scores of other slimmers.

The Journal's Josie Grove appeal was inundated by more donations yesterday. Thanks go to readers who sent in more money. The Journal appeal total for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund now stands at £2,727.

Readers who yesterday donated or sent in sponsorship for our columnist David Banks, who is doing a sponsored slim for the fund, are:

* J M Metcalf, Alnwick, £10
* Nick Donaldson, South Shields, £5
* Mrs B Forster, Houghton-le-Spring, £10
* Stan & Sylvia Robson, Morpeth, £5
* Pauline Swallow, £20
* Arthur Balmbro, Alnwick, £20
* Mark & Lezley Gibson, Alston, £20
* John Slater, Berwick, £10
* Mrs B Trevethan, Heaton, Newcastle, £10
* G A & M Makepeace, £10
* Mrs M Wilcox, Alnwick, £10
* Robbie & Pauline Armstrong, Stocksfield, £30
* Ed Williams, Newcastle, £20
* S M Straker-Wilson, £10
* Mrs Betty Thomas, £10
* Mr R Pringle, Alnwick, £10
* Mrs J Nolan, £10
* Mrs M Dinning, £30
* Gordon & Anne Proudlock, Cramlington, £20
* Peter & Sue Hoppe, Newcastle, £10
* Christine Jemson, North Shields, £10
* Mrs F Gandy, Longhorsley, £20
* Richard Welsh, Newcastle, £10
* Joseph Dent, Walker, Newcastle, £100
* F H & E A Dickson, £10
* Mr & Mrs L Woollett, Morpeth, £10
* Mr M Handyside, Bedlington, £10
* E Spowart, Warkworth, £10
* Mr & Mrs P W Stobie, Ridsdale, Northumberland, £10
* Ward Family, Prudhoe, £20
* D Davinson, Stanley, £10
* R & D Wright, £25
* Anthony Wood, Riding Mill, Northumberland, £50
* Isabella Down, Stakeford, Northumberland, £10
* Derek Moy, £20

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This is how you can help raise money

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

You may 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.