Jacksons’ charity of the year 2019 is Dragonfly Cancer Trust, whose staff and volunteers work really hard to support young cancer patients with very limited time, helping families and young couples create precious and lasting memories together. The charity provides Cash Gifts and organises Dragonfly Dreams for children and young people up to the age of 24 years old throughout the UK.
We thought it would be good to get an update from Jane Dennison at the charity, to see what they have been up to.
It has been a busy time for the staff and volunteers within the Trust. Since January 2019 the number of requests from young people has increased and we have already supported over 54 young people with more applications in the system.
The requests we receive vary greatly, and I am delighted to say we have made each one happen quickly and respectfully.
Some of our recipients have been extremely kind and offered to share their story on our website, we very rarely do this but when we are approached, we welcome the opportunity to highlight what we do and what it means to the families.
Center Parcs has kindly adopted us for the fourth year running and have gifted the Trust seven free stays to offer to our families. This is the fourth year that this has happened, and we are delighted to be given this opportunity as an extra free activity for the families we support.
Our focus for the rest of the year is continuing to grow our number of requests by working closely with more referrers such as hospices, Poon’s Nursing Teams and G. P’s. We want to make sure that all young people with a palliative diagnosis know how to access our services and are given the opportunity to create memories with those who matter most.
We are also introducing very personalised memory boxes for couples and individuals to focus their mind and record their journey through treatment and beyond. We are so excited to see this project evolving and very proud to have worked with a team of young university students to make this happen.
Our charity doesn’t receive any statutory funding. We therefore have to work very hard to raise the funds needed in order to grant children and young people their gifts, and we rely heavily on donations and support from local businesses. We are currently organising a number of events to raise these much needed funds and to raise awareness of the work that we do. Here is a snapshot of the fundraising events coming up in the near future:
We have a number of our supporters taking on the Great North Run Challenge on the 8th September this year which is always a fantastic day. We are really looking forward to cheering the runners on and welcoming them to the finish line in South Shields.
We’re looking forward to Jacksons Law Firm is hosting a golf day on Thursday 12th September at Teesside Golf Club with a number of businesses signed up and entering teams.
On October 9th Jacksons Law Firm is hosting a charity book and brunch event at one of the region’s most iconic venues The Chapter House in Durham Cathedral (the very room where scenes from Professor McGonagall’s classroom in the first Harry Potter movie were filmed). We have five local authors lined up who will be giving talks to include book readings, whilst our guests are enjoying their pancakes and pastries.
We are excited to be hosting our first ever Tea at the Secret Tower event in Newcastle on 10th October.
On November 9th we are hosting The Dragonfly Ball at The Grand Hotel in Gosforth. The ball is now approaching its eighth year and has raised over £150k. Costs are £60 per ticket and it includes a three course meal, entertainment and a night of fun and laughter.
If you would like to learn more about the charity, to volunteer or take part in any of the events above, please email info@josiesdragonfly.org or telephone 0191 261 0971. For tickets to the book and brunch event please contact cnoble@jacksons-law.com or telephone 01642 356500. To find out more about our charity click on www.dragonflycancertrust.org.
Thank you so much for your ongoing enthusiasm and support. Jane Dennison, Director of Fundraising
