A birthday present

Feb 22 2007 By Murray Kelso, The Journal

A milestone birthday for a Northumberland man has provided another major boost to the Josie Grove Leukaemia Fund in an amazing act of generosity.

When farmer Stephen Shell reluctantly conceded that he was due to turn 50 last week he thought about the bottles of wine, slippers and various presents he was likely to get from his loving family and friends.

But after hearing about The Journal's drive to raise funds to help young cancer sufferers in the region in the name of the brave 16-year-old Corbridge girl, the father-of-three had a brainwave.

"Rather than buy anything for me I decided to ask people to donate money to the fund instead," he said. "It would save people having to think about what to get a 50-year-old and would mark my birthday with something really worthwhile.

"I didn't really feel comfortable about the Big Five-O anyway, so I thought it might soften the blow."

And the idea paid off, with a total of £650 being donated in cash and cheques at Stephen's party, giving a welcome boost to the fund which has topped £16,000 since it was launched in December.

But the humble farmer, from Powburn, near Alnwick, insisted that he wouldn't take any of the credit.

Stephen said: "This is all down to those people who gave so generously - it's all because of them. I gave a little speech at the party and reminded everyone to dig deep. I told them that loose change was too fiddly so paper cash would be preferred, and that's exactly what they donated.

"Even the band my wife, Susan, had booked to play wouldn't take payment and insisted we put their fee to the final total, and I thought that was fantastic, so we want to thank everyone who donated."

However, at the end of the day there was one person Stephen wanted to thank more than anyone.

After two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants 16-year-old Josie Grove, of Princes Street, Corbridge decided late last year to stop all treatment and spend her remaining time with her parents and siblings. Since then she has received support from across the UK and hundreds of letters from people she doesn't even know. Stephen said: "She comes across to me as such a courageous person.

"To be so focused at such a young age and in such circumstances is admirable to say the least. I would love to meet her just to shake her hand and tell her how courageous I think she is."

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You can help

The Journal is asking readers to get behind our bid to raise money for Josie's fund.

There are two ways you can do your bit to help:

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 in formation of any events - solo or team - you have arranged to help 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.