A Messeage From Rob, BikerDown Staffordshire

Something I wouldn’t normally post about on here but I’ve just spent a weekend in Wales supporting the Joe Gilligan Trust where I met a truly awesome bunch of people. The Mad Moorlanders led by the legend that is Andy De Caso have completed a month of fundraising for the JGT which climaxed with a 200 mile, chasing the sunset cycle ride from Skegness to Rhyl in one day. Absolutely phenomenal effort from all the guys. Heading towards raising £20k which is already helping families and young individuals with a cancer diagnosis throughout Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire and beyond. If you want to know more about this incredible (and very possibly completely bonkers) bunch of humans take a look at the link below. I’m choosing to post now as I was incredibly moved by the team’s efforts over the month but particularly in relation to Saturday’s efforts. It also dovetails with #ptsdawareness month so I’m compelled to post. Joe Gilligan was my nephew. We lost him to brain cancer in 2009 at the age of twenty. The trust is entirely the work of others, particularly my brother and sister in law Joey's Folks and I take no credit whatsoever. At the time of Joe’s passing I was incredibly angry about what I perceived to be an incredible injustice. A decade later when I finally undertook therapy with MIND Blue Light, after life (as always a combination of personal and professional) had given me one knock too many, I became aware of things such as compassion fatigue and moral injury. Both issues I was suffering with in spades and that affect many blue light responders. And yes, I was still holding onto that anger over Joe’s passing. I may post again about mental health but I’m aware that many people do, and much more eloquently that I ever could. Perhaps I’ll talk about the positives, the good people that I’ve met or the experiences I’ve had that, without an awareness of my own mental health I may never have had. Experiences such as meeting the Mad Moorlanders!

Chasing The Sun Bike Ride

Message from Fundraiser Josh Davis

We are very grateful to Andy, Josh and the team for choosing to fundraise for us. Please visit their Just Giving page and let’s get behind this ambitious and exciting project. More information about this fantastic fundraising project in the the post beklow. https://www.justgiving.com/page/madmoorlanders-1703940046008?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmadmoorlanders-1703940046008&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

The Mad Moorlanders →

Happy New Year to all our wonderful fundraisers and friends. Thank you all for another amazing year of love and support for the JGT. To kick start 2024, I would like to introduce an incredible team of hikers, golfers and cyclists led by Andrew De Caso from Cheadle. We are very grateful to Andy and the team for choosing to fundraise for us. Please visit their Just Giving page and let’s get behind this ambitious and exciting project. https://www.justgiving.com/page/madmoorlanders-1703940046008?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmadmoorlanders-1703940046008&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Britannia Stadium Fundraiser

On June 4th the JGT returned to the Britannia Stadium for a fund raising football match. Organised by trustee Sam Martin, it was a real family atmosphere with great support from our fundraisers and associates raising just under £500 on the day. Our sincerest thanks goes to all the players and their families for supporting the JGT with this event.

UK Point of Light

Fighting Teenage Cancer with Music

UK Point of Light 478. Craig Gilligan

Craig Gilligan’s son Joe was a talented drummer working towards a career in music when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 18. Joe and his family stayed positive throughout his treatment and were grateful for the specialised support and care they received from the Young Person’s Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Joe sadly died in 2009, and shortly after one of Craig’s music students suggested they hold a memorial concert. That event became the start of the Joe Gilligan Trust, a charity which has raised over £250,000 to support other teenagers fighting cancer.

Since the Joe Gilligan Trust was set up in 2010, Craig has led a range of fundraising events, from music gigs to rugby matches. Many of Joe’s friends and Craig’s music students have got involved with raising money for the trust. The money is used to directly fund practical day-to-day support for teenagers with cancer like laptops for school work, or new clothes for those who have put on lots of weight due to chemotherapy treatment. The Trust also offers a platform for aspiring young musicians like Joe, with opportunities to perform gigs and mentoring and advice to support them.

The Prime Minister said:

“Craig has shown incredible strength in setting up the Joe Gilligan Trust in memory of his son. He has raised a fantastic amount of money to support other teenagers fighting cancer, and also those who shared Joe’s love of music. The practical assistance the Trust provides has made a real difference in the lives of many young people. To all those Craig has helped, he is truly a Point of Light.”

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Faithful & Strong

The JGT has raised funds in Joe’s memory for over a decade. During that time our friends and associates have performed gigs, staged shows, run marathons, climbed mountains, hosted sporting events and many more fundraising activities all to assist young adults on their cancer journey. We have always been and will remain a non-profit making charity. That means 100% of everything you pledge will go directly to supporting our objectives.

Faithful & Strong

The JGT Podcast

Our mission is to produce life affirming and inspirational podcasts from people meeting some of life’s challenges head-on. Sharing their journeys with you, our guests display courage in adversity and turn obstacles and difficulties into positive endorsements of modern day living.

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