Denvah’s mam and dad are both self employed and their income stopped the minute Denvah was diagnosed as they both stopped working immediately.
Attending hospital appointments in both Birmingham and Newcastle, visits from the Community Nurses, caring for Denvah around her treatment as well as caring for her 3 older brothers means that working in the early months is very hard.
Paul is a self employed bricklayer working on building sites and Gemma is a health and wellbeing practitioner carrying out intolerance and allergy testing as well as a number of other holistic treatments. Patients that Gemma treats often come into her office unwell and whilst Denvah is having chemotherapy her immune system can be non existent, her neutrophils have been low from the beginning meaning she is neutropenic and if she was to catch something she wouldn’t be able to fight it off.
Neither of them can take the risk so they both decide to stop work for the time being, that been said they had no idea how they would pay their bills or put food on the table.
We live in a small pit village and everyone knows everyone. I also come from the travelling showman community and grew up on the fair ground.
The support we have received from the local village and my community has been overwhelming at times. They have and continue to raise money for us so we can live and care for Denvah without the worry of having to return to work.
It was just one less thing we needed to worry about and they have all showed up and supported us when we have needed it with support coming in from around the country, we will never be able to repay them and will be eternally grateful but it got me thinking that not every one is as lucky as we are to have such support.
In the beginning I set up the Facebook and instagram pages
to raise awareness however I quickly realised that it could turn into something much bigger to help not only us but also other sufferers and also Denvah when she grows up.
We have no idea what the future holds for Denvah so we would like to set this up and let her be the ambassador of her own organisation, raising awareness and funds to help others. I would love for her 3 older brothers to be ambassadors too.
I did a little research and realised that there is an awareness week in May. So I decided to hold a full week of fundraising.
Denvah’s dad, myself and her 2 older brothers will cycle using an exercise bike at home for 6 hours each 24 in total throughout the day and we will get sponsored to do so, we also have a number of Pts and fitness instructors around the area holding classes and donating the class fees to us as well as other doing bike rides, sit uoa5, burpee challenges
Lots of the local treatment and beauty practitioners have kindly said they will do treatments that day and the money will be donated. Treatments we have are, mini facial, mini manicure, mini manicure, gel nails, eyebrow wax and/or tint, indian head massage, and lots more
For this we will sell eye patches for £1 a patch, you will be able to buy them at a number of places and the idea is to wear the patch for min of 1 hour during the day to understand what Denvah and other children like Denvah experience daily. There are a number of child care providers and toddle groups getting involved to hold a pirate day so younger children can also get involved.
This will be a day dedicated to a huge Tombola, Gemma has been asking for gifts and is selling raffle tickets for the day, there will be an inventory numbering the prizes 1, 2, 3….. And the winners will win in the order of the list. There has been a huge response for this so far.
An event, held locally with Denvah as the star guest. There will be lots of free entertainment for the children, face paint, groom and ride the pony, characters walking around, music, food, candyfloss, balloon maker. For the adults there will be lots of Stands to have a shop whilst the kids play.
A chance for everyone to really get behind Gemma and the family to help raise awareness of Retinoblastoma by sharing a Facebook or Instagram post every hour.
We hope to raise as much money as we can. This first year it will help us and Denvah navigate through this nightmare that we seem to be living in and after that we hope to set up a charity / foundation so we can help other parents who have recently been diagnosed. Maybe a one off sum of money, a book or support, something that will help them.
If you would like to get involved, donate or would like any information then please get in touch using the contact form below or through one of our social media pages.
We hope to make this event bigger and better every year
Lots of Love
Denvah and her Family xxx