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The 4 Jo Fund was set up in honour of our dear friend Jo Burton O’Donnell. Jo was an incredibly talented Learning Curves student who had become part of our teaching team and was due to start her professional dance teacher training with Lian. Jo had energy for life, a giving personality and a dance style that was unique. At the age of 18 Jo was an organ donor, gave blood on a regular basis, and had direct debits to various charities including sponsorship of a child in the 3rd world. It was not until Jo’s death that her family learned of Jo’s support of these charities of which the direct debits totalled to £40.00 per month – and all from a students bank account! Jo died on the 26th November 2003 in a car accident – the cause of which will never be known but the only explanation was that Jo swerved to miss an animal. Jo’s family will never come to terms with their loss but want to follow by her example. The 4Jo Fund has been set up in memory of this very special person to carry on her good work and make a difference to children’s lives. Since the 4Jo Fund was set up Jo’s family, friends and even people who didn’t know Jo have been raising money in many ways including sponsored walks, marathons, swims, dance classes, donations on Jo’s birthday and Christmas, Jo’s friends at Stratford College organised a fantastic drama and rock concert, and at Learning Curves School of Dance we dedicate our annual shows to the Fund. Carrying on in true Jo style the 4Jo Fund aims to put the FUN into FUNd raising! Each year Learning Curves School of Dance donates proceeds from our annual Dance Show at the Solihull Arts Complex and have raised a combined total of £7,000 from the shows in 2004, 2005 and 2006! But where does the money go?Reynolds Cross School is an incredible facility helping children with additional needs. Children with mental and physical disabilities including Downs Syndrome and Autism attend the school whereby most funding is gained through fund raising. Jennie Hutton one of our dance instructors, has a brother who attended Reynolds Cross when he was a child and Jennie has fond memories of the school. In particular the sensory room that Steven used to play in provided a real boost for his learning skills and hours of enjoyment. The mix of fibre optic equipment, light projectors, bubble tubes and interactive sensory stimuli encouraged progress for Steven and many others’ minds. Steven like many who attend the school suffers from a very severe case of autism. Sensory equipment stimulates children across the whole range of the autism spectrum. Technology moves on so quickly and despite its huge benefits sensory equipment is considered a luxury item, therefore funding has had to be concentrated into other areas of the school. This is where the 4Jo Fund comes in! The 4Jo Fund has funded a new £6,000 sensory unit that has been designed specifically with the School’s needs in mind. It is a transportable unit that can easily be taken to each classroom therefore benefiting every child. And the funding continues! Learning Curves will continue to support the 4Jo Fund, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the fantastic students and parents who have supported the Dance School over the years to raise money for this worthy cause. Our News Page will keep you updated with all of the latest fundraising events that support the 4Jo Fund! Lynne's speech at the Dance Show 2006 Click here to download the sound byte. |
