Flying start to sale of Josie's pendants
Mar 7 2007 By Daniel Thomson, The Journal
Fundraising efforts inspired by teenager Josie Grove reached a double milestone yesterday.
The Journal's Josie Grove Appeal has now raised more than £20,000 for young people suffering from leukaemia, while interest in the charity pendant designed by the 16-year-old and her mum has got off to a phenomenal start.
More than 3,000 people have registered their interest in one of Josie's Dragonflies online, even though the website has only been up and running for 48 hours.
Josie's father Cliff, 46, a jewellery designer, of Princes Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, said he was amazed at the response and was determined his daughter's legacy would live on.
The teenager decided to end her cancer treatment so she could spend her last months with her family, but little did she know her courageous decision would capture the hearts of the nation.
She died last week after a two-year battle with cancer. A moving celebration of her inspirational life took place at St Andrew's Church, Corbridge, on Monday.
Cliff said: "I wasn't really sure how many people would be interested in the pendant. It would have been a bit sad if we'd put this out and not many people expressed an interest.
"But to get more than 3,000 people registering for one of Josie's dragonflies is fantastic."
The teenager was given the gold prototype for the pendant, which featured a diamond on the heart of the dragonfly, two days before she died.
Cliff added: "Josie had so much fulfillment from her charity work that she wanted something that would continue as a legacy after she was gone." Josie, a talented artist and champion swimmer, was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago while her family were living in Thailand.
But after two bone marrow transplants and aggressive anti-cancer drugs proved unsuccessful, doctors told her the cancer was terminal.
She decided to forgo further treatment to better enjoy the time she had left with her parents, Cliff and Jacqui, sister Libby, 11, and two brothers, Freddie, 13, and 11-month-old Charlie.
Her story moved Journal columnist David Banks to tears, especially as he was in remission from leukaemia himself, and inspired him to start a sponsored slim in her name.
This sparked The Journal's Josie Grove Appeal, which encouraged readers to help raise money for children and young people with cancer.
To register your interest in Josie's Dragonfly (£15.99 plus £1.99 p&p), visit www.josiesdragonfly.org or ring Grove Contemporary Jewellery on (01434) 600011.
A special email address has been set up in Josie's name for Journal readers to join the Anthony Nolan Trust's bone marrow register. The address to is josie@anthonynolan.org.uk For those without email access, the donor hotline is 0901 882-2234.
Donors' identities are kept anonymous, but please mention The Journal's Josie Grove Appeal when asked how you found out about the number so we can record how many people are signing up in Josie's name.
