Story Highlight
– Berry’s Jewellers raised funds for various charities.
– This year, focus is on colleague Jo James.
– Jo diagnosed with aggressive brain tumour, seeking treatment.
– Fundraising aims to cover £100,000 treatment costs.
– Community support essential for Jo’s ongoing care.
Full Story
Berry’s Jewellers Charity Initiative has successfully raised significant funds for a variety of causes, including well-known organisations like Dementia UK and Samaritans, as well as local charities such as Martin House Children’s Hospice and the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. This year, however, the focus has shifted to support a cause that is particularly personal.
The charity of choice for this campaign is Brainstrust, which offers vital assistance to individuals facing severe forms of cancer, including Jo James, an employee at Berry’s. Jo is currently undergoing pioneering treatment in Germany after the NHS indicated that further options were no longer available.
Reflecting on her difficult journey, Joanna shares how her life was irreversibly changed last year due to an undetected brain tumour.
“In September last year, I was in Greece celebrating my 50th birthday with my partner Mark. I was lying on a sunbed, feeling incredibly fulfilled and happy. In an instant, everything changed—I lost the ability to speak. Mark acted quickly, and I was taken to hospital. Within a day, our lives were shattered,” she recalled.
Joanna was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma, an aggressive and life-limiting brain tumour. She explains the profound impact of such a diagnosis: “A news like this doesn’t just shake your world; it shatters it. One moment you are planning for the future, and the next you learn you may have only 12 to 18 months ahead of you.”
Since her diagnosis, Joanna has undergone awake brain surgery to excise as much of the tumour as possible, followed by courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. “I have faced each step with determination and strength because I refuse to give up my fight for life,” she conveys.
Despite ongoing chemotherapy, she notes, “Currently, there are no further available treatment options on the NHS outside the standard care protocols.”
Following extensive inquiry and medical advice, Joanna is set to begin immunotherapy at IOZK, a clinic in Cologne, Germany, in March. She explains that the treatment seeks to activate her immune system to identify and attack tumour cells. “It’s not a cure, but it gives me hope for more time and for maintaining my quality of life,” she said. The total estimated cost of her treatment, including travel and medical expenses, is around £100,000.
Joanna expresses her gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received from family, friends, and even strangers. “For those wanting to help, this page provides a way for support, and I appreciate every contribution, large or small. Brainstrust ensures all donations are directed towards my care, and any surplus will help others facing similar challenges,” she states.
Joanna encourages those unable to donate to simply share her story, saying, “Your support in spreading the word is invaluable.”
Berry’s managing director Simon Walton and Leeds store manager Matt Abbey recently participated in a 24-hour marathon event to run, walk, or cycle 100 miles, commencing and concluding at the brand’s flagship store on Albion Street.
Simon Oxby, Berry’s head of operations and leader of the charity initiative, stated, “We are immensely proud of this effort and the crucial funds raised for Jo’s treatment. We invite everyone who can to contribute via the link provided.”
The fundraising page for Joanna can be found [here].
