On Sunday 16th March, The Joely Bear Appeal held its 40th Blood Donor Session, in conjunction with The National Blood Service, at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue in Borehamwood.
This session was significant for many reasons. Not only was it the 40th such session jointly held by the two organisations, but the charity found both its 5000th donation being taken and its 1000th new donor being signed up. With each donation potentially benefiting up to three people these achievements are not to be understated.
Well-known children’s entertainer and TV presenter Dave Benson Phillips (Playhouse Disney, Get Your Own Back, Playdays, Fun Song Factory) was on hand to show his support and entertain the children that had come to watch their parents donate. Dave also presented the charity with a celebratory cake to mark the occasion which was later donated to the children of Treasure Island ward at Barnet General Hospital.
The Joely Bear Appeal is a local charity, founded in 1995 and based in Borehamwood, in memory of Joel Renak who died of a rare form of liver cancer aged just 4½. One of the main aims of the charity is ‘to promote the importance of giving blood and of being registered on the bone marrow register’.
It was particularly significant that Dave Benson Phillips was on hand to lend his support to the cause, as in 1994 he had entertained the children at Joel’s 4th birthday party and remained close friends with the family and charity founded in Joel’s name ever since.
Jonathan Kaye, a 19 year old from Elstree, became the 1000th new donor to register and donate at a Joely Bear session whilst Ashley Kay (unrelated) became the 5000th donation taken under the Joely Bear name.
The end result from this landmark session was amongst the best the charity has seen in its 13 year history of holding such sessions. 189 people turned up to give blood and 60 new donors were signed up on the day. In total, some 60 volunteers helped throughout the day in order to ensure the success of the day.
Joel’s brother, Daniel Renak said ‘Today’s session has been a fun day out for all the family. Whilst their parents are helping save lives, the children are enjoying the supervised crèche, bouncy castle and face paints. Giving blood is something that the vast majority of the able population won’t even contemplate doing whilst they’d expect it to be available should they, friends or family require it following routine or emergency surgery’.
The Joely Bear Appeals 41st Blood Donor Session will be held on Sunday 20th July 2008 at Fairfield Junior School, Watford Road, Radlett, Herts. WD7 8LU. If you are on facebook, click here to join the event.
In other news, we will be holding a sponsored bike ride through 35 miles of Hertfordshire countryside on Sunday 8th June 2008. Anyone wishing to ride, or help steward the event is asked to call 020 8953 5455 or sign up online at www.joelybear.org.uk/bikeride.
