Josie Grove’s dream vision

Feb 18 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

THE family of Josie Grove are looking to honour her legacy by providing support to every terminally ill child in the country.

The 16-year-old died at her home in Corbridge, Northumberland, almost a year ago after giving up treatment for leukaemia so that she could spend the last few months of her life with her family.

Before she died Josie began work on an appeal, now a registered charity, that looked to help youngsters in a similar position, and after an “incredible” first year her parents are looking to take the charity to a national level.

Her mother, Jacqui, said that the aim was to make the Josie’s Dragonfly charity a “household name”.

She said: “The reason Josie made her story public was to help other people, so this is her achievement.

“We were always determined that it would be Josie’s legacy, and this is what she would have wanted. We weren’t sure we would be able to take it to a national level, but now it is our commitment to her to carry it on.”

The family – including Josie’s siblings Freddie, 15, Libby, 12, and Charlie, one – are returning to live in Thailand this week, having moved to England in 2004 for Josie’s treatment.

But they will still be dedicating their time to the charity, which is supported by a number of trustees and volunteers in the UK.

In its first year, the charity has raised about £125,000, but to help all the children in the country who are told their cancer cannot be cured – about 46 per month – the charity will need to make £300,000 each year.

This cash will then be spent giving £500 gifts to sick children, as well as providing craft materials for cancer wards in 23 hospitals across the country.

Mr and Mrs Grove plan to raise the extra funds by extending the fundraising efforts seen in the North East across the country. At the moment the cash gift aspect of the charity operates in four hospitals – the RVI in Newcastle as well as hospitals in Leeds, Sheffield and Sutton.

Mrs Grove said: “We want to get all the 23 hospitals by the end of the year but it will need real commitment and regular donations.

“It is a huge target and we are going to have to work at it. To start with everybody still had Josie’s picture in their minds – what we have to do is work to keep that momentum going. I don’t feel nervous about the challenge, I just know it is going to work. It is a genuine cause, with a genuine aim, and people can associate with it.”

Josie’s father Cliff said: “It was because Josie went through the system that she knew exactly what was needed.”