THE mother of a seven-year-old boy who launched a bucket list of his dream activities after being diagnosed with an incurable disease said the family has been overwhelmed by the response from their local community.

From raffles and bag packing, to a trip in a special car, sponsored walks and volunteers' digging in to provide a garden, Karen Jessop, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, said the reaction has been “unbelievable.”

The Northern Echo:
Joshua tries out Nigel Corner's Ferrari

Her son Joshua suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe and progressive muscle wasting disease which affects boys, gradually causing them to become weaker and weaker. Life expectancy ranges from adolescence to early adulthood.

Mrs Jessop and husband Alan decided last year they were determined to give Joshua as many experiences and memories as possible and raise awareness of the disease, and launched his Facebook page Joshua’s Journey for Life.

Since then they have had an avalanche of offers to help fulfil Joshua’s bucket list from meeting Santa to being a celebrity at an event. One of his biggest wishes was to have a trip in a classic car so Nigel Corner from Leyburn obliged with a trip in his Ferrari.

“Joshua was so astonished when he turned up in the Ferrari, his eyes were on stalks. He was so thrilled, we can’t thank him enough,” said Mrs Jessop.

“People have been so kind, it really is overwhelming. Staff at the Co-op did a bag pack with us and raised £400. Richmond Motor Club raffled an enormous Easter egg and raised £150. Richmond Duck club are creating a garden den for Josh.

“The Station cinema at Richmond is organising a singalong Lion King as a fundraiser to mark the day Josh was first diagnosed with Duchenne. It’s a time when we always try and do something positive.

“And two members of Catterick Young Farmers Club, Emma Walton and Becky Slinger are walking to the YFC’s AGM, from Leyburn to Blackpool - that’s 90 miles - in a joint fundraiser for Joshua’s Journey and for the Brain Tumour Charity.

“I don’t think they have any history of long distance walks they just wanted to help.

“It has just been amazing, people don’t realise the lift all this support gives us, it is wonderful to know that it’s there and that people we don’t know are coming up with all this.”

One of the latest dreams is for Joshua to take his sister Summer Jane to Disneyland to meet the princesses and an appeal has been set up through the Facebook page asking for unwanted and unused airmiles. Search for Joshua’s Journey For Life on Facebook for more information.