"WE’VE come so far at The Joshua Tree and it is a strange time for us all, but we can’t help but feel a little bittersweet.”

Those are the words of Pippa Watson Peck, communications and fundraising fanager of the Northwich charity, which supports children with cancer and their families.

After 14 years of fundraising for a special support centre, the charity had just moved into its new home in Sandiway, only to be forced to vacate three weeks later because of Covid-19 restrictions.

The charity’s major fundraising events have been cancelled because of the pandemic, but there is still work to be completed on the centre. And with support costs of £4,000 a year per family, the charity needs public help more than ever.

Which is why in the month that the charity’s namesake turned 21, the team is asking the public to Stay Home for Josh and make a small donation to help keep things up and running.

“Joshua’s parents Lynda and David Hill started the charity 14 years ago when Josh was diagnosed with leukaemia at just five years old,” said Pippa.

“Their dream was to build a bespoke, tranquil support centre for families to receive support and have much needed respite. We’ve been fundraising for this ever since.

“We’re all remaining very optimistic that this pandemic is not going to have an impact on the charity’s long term future but these are uncertain times and we do need whatever support people can give at this to ensure we can continue to support families.”

While the building itself is complete, and the playground has been installed, work still needs to be done in the heart space, as well as the installation of the kitchen the ordering of furniture and landscaping.

“We are so close to realising that original vision after so many years of hard work and it is looking fantastic,” said Pippa.

“But with our major fundraising events cancelled we need support now more than ever to ensure we are able to continue to support families affected by childhood cancers and keep our fabulous new centre up and running.”

The Stay Home for Josh campaign draws on the parallels of being in lockdown with the experiences of the 200 families the charity supports across the north west and north Wales.

“The similarities are huge,” said Pippa. “Our families are not able to socialise with others, they’ve had to isolate, the children have had to miss out on huge amounts of education, grandparents haven’t been able to be around, there’s the huge impact on their mental health.

“Most of us are having to stay in now so there are areas where we’ll be making some savings. A lot of us are not having to travel to work because we can work from home so we’re saving on petrol. If you live in Northwich and have to take your child for treatment to Alder Hey three or four times a week, the cost of driving is enormous.

“Lots of us aren’t going to gym, or getting our hair done. Well, some children affected by cancer don’t have any hair. It’s those sort of things we’re asking people to think about.

“Anything that you might normally do, we’re just asking if you could just Stay Home for Josh and donate £5 – it would make a huge impact. We’re so close, we’ve come so far, and we just now need as much support as possible to keep us going through the next few months and years.”

To find out more about the work of The Joshua Tree visit thejoshuatree.org.uk, where these is also a resource hub for any families currently struggling at this time.

To support the campaign text STAYHOMEFORJOSH to 70470 to make a £5 donation.