Trading weight goals

Jan 26 2007 By Daniel Thomson, The Journal

Journal columnist David Banks may be trying to lose weight - but the inspiration for his sponsored slim is trying to put it back on.

David is on a mission to shed pounds to raise money for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund after being touched by the teenager's bravery.

Josie, 16, of Princes Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, has decided to forgo further leukaemia treatment, after two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants, in order to spend the time she has left with her family.

Yesterday, it emerged that as 23-stone David has been trying to reduce his waistline, Josie has been trying to put weight back on as she recovers from a bug.

In a letter to David, Josie's mum Jacqui describes how the teenager lost weight last week while she was unwell, but bounced back as she helped refurbish the cancer ward at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Jacqui said: "We had a busy few days with nurses visiting and a trip to the hospital. Josie had been so poorly the week before. We are sure she had a bug, which knocked her for six, and she lost a lot of weight, so she was very weak as you can imagine.

"She has been much better since and is consciously trying to put weight back on and get some energy back.

"The other day, we spent the afternoon in Hobbycraft buying all kinds of things to occupy the kids on the cancer ward. They had a ball and Josie was absolutely buzzing.

"We took it all up to the ward and sorted it into previously almost empty boxes, which are now overflowing. We also went to Ikea and bought some bright abstract pictures, furniture and stuff to modernise the teenage unit.

"Just from this small start Josie can see what a difference she is making, and it's lovely to see her so thrilled."

David and Josie plan to meet up for lunch in the next few days, and the Journal columnist has vowed to make sure the teenager eats more than he does.

Josie's story moved 58-year-old David to tears when it first appeared in The Journal in December.

He is in remission from leukaemia himself, having undergone two bone marrow transplants, the second successful.

After reading about Josie's plight, David vowed to make the most of the second chance he has been given and started a sponsored slim five weeks ago - sparking The Journal's fundraising campaign for Josie.

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We are asking readers to either sponsor David or to organise their own fitness or health-related sponsored event.
Contact The Journal newsdesk on (0191) 201-6344 or go to www.journallive.co.uk/josiegrovefund  for a sponsor form.