University News Last updated 27 January 2011
A Birmingham City University manager who dropped three stone to raise money for charity has now raised another £725 by challenging colleagues, students and local people to a pub quiz.
Kathryn Jones, Director of Group Marketing & Communications at Birmingham City University, organised the quiz to raise more money for a Northampton family whose young son has been battling cancer for three years.
Kathryn originally aimed to raise £2,000 but her massive loss of three stones in three months resulted in her receiving donations of more than £3,000 from generous family, friends and fellow University staff.
Kathryn was motivated to raise money when she heard of the plight of seven year old Jay Brewer, from Burton Latimer, Northampton. Kathryn, who is also from Burton Latimer, wanted to raise money for Jay’s lifesaving treatment in America.
Jay has since been treated for a brain tumour and is now back in this country, but Kathryn felt she wanted to do more to help Jay and other children with similar illnesses. Kathryn, whose two eldest sons, Dylan (9) and Aidan (7), attend the same school as Jay has now set up a fundraising page at www.charitygiving.co.uk/kathrynjones and a facebook group ‘Three stones in three months for Jay’, which she is urging people to join to raise awareness of the situation and support Jay.
She said: “Jay seems such a happy boy and is so brave. Despite the fact he is now blind in his right eye and has hardly any energy, he still goes to school for two hours a day. As a mum, I felt I had to do something to help.
“I am delighted that so many staff, students and alumni came to support our first ever Brains of BCU quiz. It was a fantastic evening and all the better knowing that we were doing it for such a good cause. I know that it means so much to the Brewer family who have accrued significant debt to fund the trip to America. We won’t know the full effect of Jay’s proton therapy treatment for another six months, but we’re hoping it will be good news and eight months on from his last brain operation Jay is feeling much better and has returned to school full-time this week.”
For more information on Kathryn’s plight, or to donate money to the worthwhile cause, please see http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/kathrynjones