Joe Ellis, an Isle of Wight teenager that has been at the center of an Island-wide fundraising effort for treatment against a rare form of cancer, has died aged just 13.
Nearly £60,000 has been raised in just a few weeks for specialist treatment for Joe, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called mediastinal large B cell lymphoma.
Despite various treatments of the normal chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Joe did not entered remission which meant his family needed to raise £100,000 for specialist treatment from the United States. Southampton Hospital agreed to pay for the first three treatments, however the following 13 treatments needed to be self funded should the family’s application to the United Kingdom panel for funding not be successful.
The teenager’s family would like the fundraising efforts to continue in Joes’ memory, for a family of another small child who may find themselves in the unenviable position that the Ellis family found themselves in when the journey started.
In a statement issued on Joe’s fundraising page on Facebook, it has been said:
“His enjoyment of life was immense and his fight for that life simply astonishing.
“As you would now expect his family have a huge void that will never be filled. The family have been overwhelmed by the support shown to them throughout their fight.
“Joe’s passing will affect all of us differently, as this sad news hits home and whilst we can never fill the void, it is our hope that the sense of grief and helplessness will have a positive outlet, in the form of the #joesjourney project and provide a focal point for everyone involved”.
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Members of the public, businesses and emergency services have all got behind the cause and have carried out a number of events in the past couple of weeks, with more fundraising events lined up. During the Isle of Wight Festival, Police officers invited eggs to be thrown at them for £2.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Joe Ellis Trust Fund can do so via Paypal by clicking here, or alternatively email [email protected].
From us all here at Island Echo, we send our deepest condolences to the family for their loss.
