A SUNDERLAND care home is to host a special carnival this weekend (Saturday 22 August) to raise funds for life saving treatment for a Wearside teenager.
Jude Hazard, 15, from Silksworth, has an exceptionally rare and aggressive vascular cancer and – without treatment currently unavailable in the UK – he may only have months left to live.
The family are now in a race against time to find the initial £75k they need to fund treatment abroad – and Belle Vue House, at Gray Road, has stepped in to help.
Jude’s aunt Lyndsey Hazard is activities coordinator at the 27-bed home for those requiring residential and dementia care.
And she and the staff have swung into action to arrange a summer carnival at the home on Saturday 22 August.
Along with live music and entertainment there will be games, a tombola and a raffle and the home’s outdoor ice cream parlour and coffee shop will also be open.
And the home, which is owned by Prestwick Care – a division of Malhotra Group plc – hopes as many people as possible from the wider community will join them, their families and friends on from 2pm to 5pm.
“We really need to raise as much money as possible to get him the treatment,” said Lyndsey, “and, so far, Japan and Boston in the US are the most promising centres for that.”
The funds raised will be attributed towards Jude’s medical treatment, hospital stay, any travel costs and post-operative recovery. Any funds remaining will support his ongoing cardiac and cancer care.
Jude’s case is so rare it is estimated to affect only one or two in 100m people and those are most usually adults.
So far Jude has undergone treatment at both Sunderland Royal Hospital and Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital and he is now in the care of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle.
And his mum Katie said: “The surgeons and doctors have all said what a strong, courageous boy Jude is.
“Jude is well liked and a very sociable kid. He loves nothing more than being out with friends, eating out and loves good food.
“He attends the gym daily, and is such a bright boy, loving, generous, caring and a thoughtful young man.
“We are just so grateful to everyone who has supported us though a Just Giving page and really hope as many people as possible will come along on Saturday.”
For more information about Belle Vue House and other Prestwick Care residential homes visit https://www.prestwickcare.co.uk/