Millionaire pledges money
Jan 19 2007 By Hayley Beattie, The Journal
A self-made millionaire has offered to put his hand in his pocket for our Josie Grove appeal - if Journal columnist David Banks hits his weight-loss target.
Brian Burnie, who owns Doxford Hall, near Chathill, in Northumberland, has pledged to give David Banks £500 if he loses six stones.
But the prominent philanthropist didn't stop there, adding if David can beat his target and lose seven stones he will up his offer to £1,000.
Mr Burnie, 60, who lives with his wife Shirley, has helped to raise thousands for cancer charities in the North-East in the last 25 years.
After reading about 16-year-old Josie Grove's brave decision to stop treatment for her Leukaemia he decided he wanted to add his support to The Journal's appeal.
He said: "Josie is extremely brave and I think what David is doing is fantastic and we just wanted to help.
"So we will give him £500 if he loses six stone and £1,000 if he loses seven. This is open to negotiation if he loses more than that.
"I've got every confidence he can lose this weight and more."
Last year Mr and Mrs Burnie made it into the Guinness Book of Records for their annual fish and chip lunch for thousands of the region's war veterans.
It was their sixth annual celebration and they laid on an estimated 1.4 tonnes of food to 2,550 people.
The businessman, who sold his £5m-turnover recruitment company Kelburn Holdings last year, also took part in 2006's Marie Curie charity cycle ride from Berlin to Warsaw, donating £8,000 of his own money to the cause.
David, of Crookham, Northumberland, who this week found out he weighed 23 stone, 7lbs and 13oz at an official weigh-in at Newcastle's Grainger Market, thanked Mr Burnie and said: "This is fantastic. It is the most generous offer I can think of.
"It obviously does put a little bit of pressure on me but it is huge encouragement which is something I need at the moment. I know I can do it.
"The generosity of the people in this region really does know no boundaries."
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Here's the total so far ...
The Journal's appeal to raise money for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund has now reached almost £5,800.
Readers who donated or sponsored our columnist David Banks, who is losing weight for the appeal, yesterday have upped our total to £5,793.
They are:
Mrs I Morgan, Ferryhill, County Durham - £10;
A M Ward, Wolsingham, County Durham - £50;
John & Ella Purves
Coldstream - £10;
Mrs A Gay, Lesbury, Alnwick - £100 in memorial of her husband, former journalist Mike Gay, who recently died of leukaemia;
Edith Hopper, Hebburn - £5;
John Tinnion - £50;
Mrs Margaret Fretwell Black Callerton Farm, Westerhope - £20.
