Love to Josie, from half a world away

Feb 2 2007 By Daniel Thomson, The Journal

A Bangkok school where Josie Grove studied while her family were living in Thailand has donated £1,000 to the leukaemia fund inspired by her bravery.

Pupils at Bangkok Patana School pledged to raise money for her after they read on The Journal website about her heart-rending decision to forego further treatment.

Josie, 16, of Princes Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, was a pupil at the school for eight years, but left after she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2004.

In December, The Journal reported that she had decided to end her leukaemia treatment, after two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants, so she could spend the time she has left with her family.

Her story moved Journal columnist David Banks to tears, especially because he is in remission from leukaemia, and inspired him to start a sponsored slim - sparking our Josie Grove Appeal.

Staff at the school in Bangkok contacted The Journal - after they read about Josie's plight on our website www.journallive.co.uk.

Since then they have held a Busking Day [correct] where pupils were encouraged to take in a musical instrument and compose songs, poems or rhymes to help raise money.

On Tuesday[Jan 30], the school held a special non-uniform day and students donated money to the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund.

Karen Burge[correct], a teacher at Bangkok Patana School and a friend of Josie's family, said: "We unanimously agreed to donate a portion of the money raised at the last Busking Day to the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund.

"A cheque for £1,000 has been sent to her fund on behalf of the children of the Primary School.

"Josie had been at Patana School since Year 2 in 1996 and left during Year 9 in late 2004. She still has many friends at Patana who remember her well. We think it's entirely fitting that we are able to show our support for Josie at this time.

"She is an inspiration to all our students and it is gratifying to know that the money we have sent was raised by the children's own efforts and put to a truly worthy cause."

Patana School, in the south eastern corner of Bangkok, offers an education in the British tradition to more than 2,000 children and young adults from 50 nations.

It has created a page on its website where pupils and staff can leave messages for Josie and her family.