Pals hit the road in memory of Josh
A GROUP of friends are lacing up their running shoes in aid of a playgroup for disabled kids set up by a bereaved mum.
As the Observer reported on Wednesday Carole Kelly, from Wardle, is channelling her grief into helping the parents of other disabled children.
Her son Josh was just 15 months old when he died last month from a mitochondrial disease.
But Carole, from Wardle, is determined to create a legacy for Josh by setting up a charity to run play sessions for toddlers in Rochdale.
Carole, 33, first began planning the Jolly Josh playgroup while Josh was still alive after discovering there were no groups in the area for disabled youngsters under four.
The first session was held on Wednesday and will run in term-time from 1.15pm to 3.30pm at Springside School, on Albert Royds Street until Christmas.
And now a group of friends, led by plasterer James Halliwell, are to tackle the Rochdale 10km next weekend in aid of Jolly Josh, which is awaiting charitable status.
Now James, 36, from Queensway, said: “I’ve known Carole for years and I just found it so heart-warming how she is turning such a tragedy into something positive and I thought ‘What can I do to help?’.
“Since I put something on Facebook loads of people has been in touch saying they want to do it too.”
The other pals doing the run are Lee Ashworth, Gareth Groom, Anthony McGovern and Aaron Hogan. To make a donation search for ‘James Halliwell Jolly Josh’ on justgiving.com.
The Rochdale 10km and half marathon is on Sunday, October 8.