Jill's Fundraising Journey (JFJ) is a small registered charity, that has been running since October 2014, registered since February 2015. Our aims are to raise awareness of cancer and to raise funds to enable us to continue providing holidays in our a holiday home to families that have been affected by a cancer diagnosis. JFJ was initially set up in September 2013 by Jill Goodrum, 46. Jill was a wife, mother and grandmother who was diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes and liver; it was terminal. Her attitude was to not only fight the cancer but also to raise £10,000 to be shared between two charities. She wished to raise awareness of cancer as well, because if her diagnosis had come earlier, the outlook would have been very different. She achieved these aims through a page named Jill's Fundraising Journey (www.facebook.com/jillsfundraisingjourney). Devastatingly, Jill passed away on the 21st of May 2014, just 8 months after receiving the initial diagnosis. The £10,000 target was smashed by her friends and family nearly exactly a year to the day that Jill was diagnosed, just a few short months after her death. Jill left behind five children, Grace, 4, Amy, 8, Jemma, 20, Lyndsey, 27 and James, 29, as well as four grandchildren Elowen, 1, Sofia, 1, Amelie, 4 and Ella, 9 (ages correct at the time of Jill’s passing). Her two eldest daughters have carried on her story, setting up and registering Jill's Fundraising Journey as a charity in its own right to continue raising awareness. They also wish to realise two of Jill's dreams through the charity, the first to have a book published of her journey, the second to open a holiday home for cancer sufferers and their families. The dream of a book has now been realised, ‘Jill’s Fundraising Journey – the ugly truth of one mum’s tragic battle with cancer’ was published in December 2014 and is available to purchase directly from us. This book will make you smile, and cry (a lot) - it is a book that EVERYONE should read. Jill allows us to have a front row seat into her world, as its slowly taken apart by cancer. As a charity we hope to alleviate some of the pressure that is placed on families following a cancer diagnosis. Jill was made only too aware of how cancer does not only affect the person diagnosed, especially if there are young children in the family. As such we made it our aim to fundraise enough of enable us to purchase a holiday home to be able to provide short breaks free of charge to families that have been affected by a cancer diagnosis. In 2018 we succeeded and purchased our beautiful 'Jill's Place' in The New Forest, just minutes from the beach and the forest. Since then we have seen many families through the doors to enjoy respite and quality time together. We are a small charity, run entirely by unpaid trustees, and hugely appreciate all of your support. Jill's words:
"Reach for the moon and dare to hope"
