Amongst the thousands at Deepdale on Saturday, we had a very special guest joining us as a mascot.
Three-year-old Jorgie Rae Griffiths – who hails from Kirkham enjoyed the mascot experience at the Wolves game at the weekend, with her family looking for help to raise the £200,000 they need for life saving treatment.
Jorgie was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in May 2016, the same Cancer which took the life of much loved Sunderland fan, Bradley Lowery last year.
Neuroblastoma is an aggressive form of childhood Cancer which has meant Jorgie has endured countless rounds of high dose chemotherapy and, after undergoing a stem cell transplant, she suffered serious complications and was in an induced coma for a month in the run up to Christmas 2016.
The club were contacted earlier in the year by Jorgie’s Grandmother, Carole McCabe who sought the help of North End in raising awareness for Jorgie’s disease.
“Jorgie is a very clever and funny three-year-old who has fought everything she has gone through and more. Her smile lights up the darkest of days,” said Carole who spoke to PNE.Com prior to Jorgie’s matchday experience.
“She has been in and out of hospital in the last 18 months with endless infections and treatment, plus two major operations to remove some of the tumours - just before Christmas 2017, she started 15 rounds of radiotherapy each with a general anaesthetic.
“Jorgie hasn’t yet had a chance to be a ‘normal’ little girl as the infections she has had stop her from being with other children in hospital. She has also been unable to go to a playschool.”
Carole and her family have so far raised £30,000 in their bid to fund Jorgie's life-saving treatment with the help of her local community and further afield, and Jorgie was treated to a mascot experience during PNE’s 1-1 draw to Wolves where she emerged from the pitch alongside John Welsh for the game.
Jorgie will travel to America next week to start her two-year long treatment to treat the Cancer whilst her family search for the remaining £170,000 they need to fund the treatment.
“We are raising funds to get Jorgie to Michigan in America for further lifesaving treatment as it is not funded here in the UK,” continued Carole.
“We have a Just Giving Page for Jorgie on Facebook, whilst we have also raised the money through a sponsored sky dive, charity fun day and a clay pigeon shoot amongst other things.
“We still have a long way to go, but at this moment in time she is well and just trying to be a normal little girl.”
To donate to Jorgie’s Just Giving page, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/diane-ireland-5