Kirkham community raises thousands for Wesham cancer tot Jorgie

Members of the community have raised more than £20,000 during a weekend of events to help a cancer-stricken tot get life-saving treatment.
Jorgie Rae-Griffiths with dad Barry Griffiths and mum Lauren McCabe at the charity fun day at The Queen's Arms, in KirkhamJorgie Rae-Griffiths with dad Barry Griffiths and mum Lauren McCabe at the charity fun day at The Queen's Arms, in Kirkham
Jorgie Rae-Griffiths with dad Barry Griffiths and mum Lauren McCabe at the charity fun day at The Queen's Arms, in Kirkham

When Diane Ireland heard about two-year-old Jorgie Rae Griffiths, of Wesham, needing to raise up to £250,000 for specialist help in America, she began rounding up her friends to offer help. Julie Hardy, 51, of Kirkham, and Hannah Murray, 22, of Newton, jumped 15,000 feet at Black Knights Parachute Centre in Cockerham and a team of 12 people cycled from The Queens Arms, in Kirkham, to Scorton, raising a combined total of £16,500.Diane also organised a fun day at the Queens Arms, in Kirkham, which amassed a further £5,085.The money will be split between Jorgie’s fund, as well as Ronald McDonald House, where her parents are staying and North West Air Ambulance Service.Diane, of Newton, said: “My bosses at United Utilities have agreed to match fund what we raised, so I really appreciate their support.“I am absolutely overwhelmed by everybody’s generosity. Kirkham is only a small town, but we raised so much.”Determined to raise even further cash, the 53-year-old is gearing up to strip for a Calendar Girls style shoot.Diane added: “The next venture I’m organising is a WI-style Calendar Girls photo shoot which will be done later this month and hopefully printed and ready to buy by late October.“There are between 12 and 13 of us and we are using Preston plant hire firm Pete Marquis’s various vehicles and yard for the shoot. Pete is sponsoring half of the printing costs and we are raising the rest of the funds through advertising on each month.“I will be taking part - I am the oldest one in the shoot, posing by a vintage tractor no doubt.”To make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/diane-ireland-4

To find out more about Jorgie's illness click here /fund-raiser-events-for-wesham-girl-jorgie-rae-griffiths-1-8692218

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