Hospice patients dig deep for Josie

Feb 13 2007 By Robert Brooks, The Journal

Terminally ill patients at a North-East hospice have raised hundreds of pounds for The Journal's Josie Grove appeal.

Led by bereavement counsellor Jan Mefie, staff and day care patients at St Clare's Hospice in Jarrow, South Tyneside, organised a raffle of donated goods in aid of the 16-year-old Corbridge girl's cause.

And yesterday they gathered to celebrate their grand total of almost £350 raised for the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund by the effort.

Jan, 57, who has worked with the hospice for 14 years and been a volunteer for 26, spoke of the impact brave Josie's story had on them.

The terminally ill teenager, of Princes Street, Corbridge, decided to forgo further leukaemia treatment at the end of last year, following two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants.

Instead, she says she now wants to spend the time she has left with her family. Jan, of Windermere in Cleadon Village, South Tyneside, said: "It all started when I was going to send in £20 to Josie's appeal, but patients and staff at the hospice thought we should do something bigger.

"We had all read Josie's story in The Journal, and we're very moved by her courage. It touched our hearts because we deeply understand what she is going through.

"Everyone was so inspired that we ended up having a number of raffles for donated goods, including everything from bath `smellies' to chocolate to sherry."

Jan held the raffle at her own home, and was delighted with the outcome.

"We're so excited about being a part of this campaign," she said. "We hope it raises a huge amount of money for leukaemia research."

The appeal started in December, after which Journal columnist David Banks - moved by Josie's story as he is in remission from leukaemia himself - decided to start a sponsored slim.

Journal readers have so far contributed almost £11,000 to the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund, with hundreds of pounds pouring in each week.