Charlton fans get behind bereaved family’s bucket collection at the Valley
The family of Ben Jay – the Charlton fan who died of cancer three years ago – raised nearly £900 from generous fans at the Valley after a bucket collection on Saturday.
Sharon and Garry Jay from Erindale, Plumstead, collected £874.60 before Charlton Athletic’s game against Exeter City for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families.
The Jays, supported by family and friends, organised the bucket collection for Young Lives vs Cancer in memory of their son.
Ben, who tragically passed away from liver cancer at the age of 17, seven months after his diagnosis. He and his family were supported by Young Lives vs Cancer specialist social workers throughout his treatment.
To mark the third anniversary of his passing, the club released a video interview with Sharon and Garry, which included a QR code for donations to Ben Jay’s Butterfly Fund.
Sharon said: “A massive thank you to all the Charlton fans for your amazing donations and most importantly supporting The Ben Jay Fund and his memory.”
Young Lives vs Cancer is the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them.
The charity’s social workers offer specialist, empowering support, its Homes from Home offer families a free place to stay nearby to the child’s hospital and grants help families to navigate the costs of cancer.
Last year in London, Young Lives vs Cancer helped 907 young people with cancer and families get the support they needed. On average, families of a child with cancer have to pay out £700 extra a month on things like travel, food and clothing.
To help families cope with the costs of cancer, the charity gave out 699 financial grants to the value of £145,756 to young people and families in London.
A spokeswoman for Young Lives vs Cancer in Central London, said: “When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment but also of overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn to, no one to talk to. We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank Sharon, Garry enough for their fantastic support.”
To support fundraising efforts in memory of Ben, please go to https://funds.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/BenJayButterflyFund or text BENFIVE to donate £5 and BENTEN to donate £10 to 70580.
Pictured top: Rallying to the cause, friends join Sharon and Garry to raise funds (Picture: Jay Family)