Friends and celebrities have rallied round to raise £40,000 in a matter of days to help a young Harrogate man fund life-saving medical treatment.
In April last year, James Hindmarsh was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Friends and family assured him they’d stand by him all the way.
Since then James, 24, has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
However, this NHS treatment has not worked, which has spurred friends of James, who attended Ashville College, to start fundraising to pay for private treatment abroad.
Six of his best friends have pledged to complete a number of challenges, including running three marathons in three days, the Yorkshire three peaks and a ski tour. To donate click here.
James with best friend Henry Bartle (left) and his mum and brother (right).
James’ work colleagues at financial services company the DSG Group have set up a Justgiving page, bringing the overall total raised so far to more than £40,000.
James’ cancer is particularly rare in young adults and finding a clinic that can help is proving difficult. However James and those around him are determined to keep going.
James is not currently receiving any treatment and is suffering physically but continues to stay mentally strong.
One of James’ best friends, Henry Bartle, who has known him since the pair went to primary school in Cundall, said:
“James is very, very funny. He’s just an all-round amazing guy. He’s been putting on a very brave face for the past year and just takes each day as it comes.
“He’s currently fighting each day and we want to give him the best chance of living.”
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The fundraising pages were only set up days ago and has generated a rapid response. A number of celebrities, including former football manager Harry Redknapp and journalist Piers Morgan have shared the fundraising page on social media or reached out to help.
Henry added:
Martin House to open Ripon charity shop“It’s just gone crazy, we never expected this.”
Martin House, which provides family-led care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, is opening a shop in Fishergate, Ripon.
The opening later this summer, at large premises formerly occupied by an opticians, follows a challenging period when the charity suffered the double blow of having to temporarily close its 12 existing shops in Yorkshire and cancel major fundraising events.
Both revenue streams were affected by the covid crisis and Martin House expects to lose £2.2 million in planned income in the next 12 months.
Stephanie Rimmington, the head of retail for the charity, said:
“The income we get from our shops is vital to helping Martin House raise the money we need to care for families in this area.”
The premises in Fishergate, Ripon, where Martin House is opening a new shop
The charity, whose work involves support for families from across North, West and East Yorkshire, has a hospice at Boston Spa and works in the community.
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Among the fundraising events affected by the coronavirus crisis was a coffee morning planned by Joyce Liggins, who arranged the event to thank Martin House for the help and care they had given a few years ago to friends who lost a baby at just 36 hours old.
Mrs Liggins, who lives in Pateley Bridge, said social distancing requirements meant she could not go ahead with the fundraiser but she found a way to raise money regardless:
“I decided to hold three virtual coffee mornings on the first Saturday of May, June and July and asked people to have a cuppa on the Saturday morning and donate to my JustGiving page. My target was £500 and to date the total is an amazing £1250.”
She added:
“As I was also unable to hold the usual tombola, I said that after the final coffee morning I would put everyone’s name who had donated into a draw and held the draw on Zoom. The winners were drawn out live in London by Helen Worth, who plays Gail on Coronation Street.
“We were joined on Zoom by some of those who had donated, including our friends who had lost their baby. They are parents once more with a daughter who is two weeks old.”
The JustGiving page is still open if anyone would like to donate they can send it to: justgiving.com/fundraising/Joyce-Liggins.