Team suffer short fine leg for cause
Jan 10 2007 By Hayley Beattie, The Journal
A team of cricket club caterers endured a gruelling leg-waxing session yesterday and held a Jeans for Josie day to boost The Journal's charity appeal.
Staff at Austin's bar and bistro at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street dressed down for the day at the Jeans for Josie event.
And four brave male members of staff gritted their teeth as their manager Lian Henderson waxed their legs in the name of charity.
Lian said she was hoping the event would raise more than £300 for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund.
Josie, 16, of Princes Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, has decided not to go ahead with any further treatment after two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants, so she can spend time with her family.
The team at Austin's were so moved by her courageous story they decided to hold their first ever charity event to help.
Lian, 26, of Eastwood, Sacriston, County Durham, was moved to action after reading about the teenager in The Journal last month.
She said: "Her story really touched me and made me want to do something to help and everyone at the bistro was keen to do something."
Each member of staff paid £2 to come to work in jeans and other staff at the club as well as members of the public have been encouraged to sponsor the group.
The four brave souls who allowed Lian to wax their hairy legs were: David Stevens, 19, of Hetton-le-Hole, Alex Hartmann, 21, of Great Lumley, Alex Waites, 17, of Chester-le-Street, who all work at Austin's, and their friend Mark Robson, 19, of Durham.
Lian said: "I think they were a bit nervous, especially as it was me who got to pull off the waxing strips. We have made sure everyone, including the customers, has been involved in the day and we hope to raise more than £300.
"Josie is such an inspirational person and I think her story has touched so many people because she is so young and has been through so much.
"I think what The Journal is doing is fantastic and I would hope as many people as possible will support the appeal."
The Journal is urging readers to get behind our effort to raise money for Josie's fund.
There are two ways you can do your bit:
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 on any events - solo or team - you have arranged to 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
The Journal's Josie Grove appeal is approaching another target.
Thanks go to readers who sent in donations yesterday, pushing us close to the £4,000 mark.
The Journal appeal total for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund now stands at £3,832.
Mrs PM Tindle, Killingworth Drive, £10
Eileen Elder, Wideopen, £20
Mrs MR Reed, £5
George Morrison, West Woodburn, £20
JB Wilkinson and Mrs E Wilkinson, £10
J McCarthy and AK Skeide, £20
Mrs A Telfer, Wooler, £10
Richard Herkes, Houghton-le-Spring, £10
Barbara Conneely, Whitley Bay, £10
Mr David Child, Gosforth, £20
Mrs H Pratt, Coxhoe, £5
CC and MA Boulton, £20
Mrs D Jevons, Longframlington, £10
Mr M J Craig, North Shields, £15
EM Dreyer, £20
Brian Gray, Preston Grange, £10
Mr and Mrs A Birks, St Michaels Park, £25
Judith Robson, Stocksfield, £5
Mrs Margery Willey, Cumbria, £10
Mrs Gwen Hutchinson, Sunderland, £10
I and SE Cliff, County Durham, £10
Anon, £20
Anon, £30
Lawrence Armstrong, Ashington, £10
Mr K Patton, Spennymoor, £40
David Graham, Consett, £10
BM Ridley, £10
W Merkin, Corbridge, £10
Ann Dinning, Hexham, £10
Linda Gutcher, Gosforth, £5
John and Kathleen Culleton, Hexham, £10
