A woman has started a heartfelt fundraising campaign to support her friend and his family as they go through what she describes as an incredibly difficult time.
A woman has started a heartfelt fundraising campaign to support her friend and his family as they go through what she describes as an incredibly difficult time.
Jenny Thorpe has set up a GoFundMe page for her friend and former colleague, Josh Hill-Walsh, a 40-year-old father from Weymouth. Josh was diagnosed last year with stage four colorectal cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease that has spread to his liver, lymph nodes and peritoneum.
Jenny hopes to raise enough money to give Josh, his wife Lindsay, and their children – nine-year-old Michael and 16-year-old Lewis – the chance to enjoy a long weekend in Germany, a place Josh has always wanted to visit.
She said she wanted to do something meaningful for the family after everything they have been through. After speaking with Lindsay, she learned that travelling abroad, particularly to Germany, is on Josh’s bucket list.
Jenny said it would be “amazing” if enough funds could be raised to send the family away together, giving them a chance to make special memories, take a break from their situation, and spend valuable time together before continuing treatment.
Josh is expected to begin a new course of treatment in April. Since sharing their story, the family has received an outpouring of support, with many people offering help and wanting to contribute towards making his bucket list wishes a reality.
Speaking to the Echo, Lindsay said that experiences like this would mean a great deal to the whole family. She explained it would give them the opportunity to create lasting memories, enjoy new experiences together, and have something positive to look back on in the future.
At the time of writing, Jenny’s fundraiser had raised £110.
Friends of Josh, Amelia Warr and Alyce Rockliff, are also raising money to help him achieve more of his bucket list goals. Amelia is set to take part in a middle-distance triathlon in June – equivalent to a Half Ironman – while Alyce will run a demanding 70-mile ultramarathon along Hadrian’s Wall over the same weekend.
Together, their efforts have raised £10,561 so far.
To support the fundraising and help Josh tick off his bucket list, you can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bucket-list-for-josh
