http://joshskinner.memory-of.com/

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.

Please donate generously. Many thanks for your support.

Chestnut Tree House Appeal

Monies received in Josh's memory are now given to Chestnut Tree House, a charity he worked to raise money for too. I would just like to tell you a little bit about Josh and his Godfather, Jeff so you can understand how this donation means so much to me and my family.

On the 2nd July 2005, Jeffery was riding along a country road on his motorbike when a car pulled out on him and he collided with it. He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he had several operations but on the 31st August 2005 he very sadly passed away. He was 52. He left behind his wonderful wife Sara, his two loving children Simon and Charlotte and many many loving friends. He was an intelligent man, a wonderful friend to many and a wonderful family man. He is sorely missed by so many.  

If this wasn’t enough, just 40 days later (and just two weeks after my wedding, his big sister) on the 10th October, Joshua was travelling home from his job at the Shoreham McDonalds on his moped when a car struck him at a great speed from behind. He died instantly from head injuries. He was 16 years, 5 months and 9 days old. He left behind his grandparents, Tony and Brenda, his mum and dad, Paula and Gary, his sisters Emma, Wendy and Joshua and an already grieving family and many friends.  His death left a great hole in the lives of everyone who knew and loved him. Nearly two years on, the pain of losing them both is still so painful and so fresh but we all try to focus on celebrating their lives rather than mourning their deaths.

The 1st May 2007 was set to be a special day for our family before the 10th October 2005. It was to be Joshua’s 18th birthday. We therefore decided to celebrate his life on this day by way of a party, especially as Joshua himself had already organised a DJ and a venue for it before his death. We could never have cancelled this; it would have been far too painful. Therefore, along with a party, my parents, who had been through the worst loss a parent can ever imagine, decided to reaffirm their wedding vows in a church service that would also act as a memorial service. Once the invites had gone out and everything was organised the guests started asking if they should buy gifts for them. After thinking about this for half a second our answer was no. Gifts, unfortunately, mean nothing to any of us anymore. Money can’t buy happiness or can it??
 
When Joshua was 12 years old, he and his fellow class mates at school did a fun raiser when they raised money for the Chestnut Tree Appeal. He was so touched and to an extent hurt by what he was raising the money for he made his sisters give up their pocket money and his family double their sponsorship money. He told my mum “you said money couldn’t buy happiness but you’re wrong, this money will buy a little bit of happiness for some poorly children which then makes me happy”.
For a 12 year old boy, he had so much compassion and so much love for children that weren’t (he considered ) as lucky as him. Looking back on this act of generosity only reminded us of what a wonderful person he was and in that moment we knew what Joshua would want us to do. So, after an emotional but positive day our friends and family raised a total of

We only hope that this money will help in some way and wish we could raise more and more for you in their memory. I apologise if this seems long winded but just writing this down is a positive thing for us. Their memory not only lives on in us all but now in such a worthy cause as the Chestnut Tree house Appeal.

Yours truly,

Emma Woolford - Josh's Sister