James’ swim in fundraising drive for Kodi

James’ swim in fundraising drive for Kodi

8 August 2018

A SCHOOLBOY will swim around an island in Strangford Lough next month in aid of classmate Kodi Brown who has a brain tumour.

James Wilson’s attempt to swim around Bush Island is one of the local events being organised to raise £150,000 for Kodi’s treatment. 

Kodi’s parents have taken the Killinchy girl to Germany for privately funded immunotherapy therapy.

Friends and supporters launched the Kodi’s Krew fundraising campaign on social media and have already raised over £34,000 in just two weeks. 

However, it is estimated that it will take up to £150,000 to fund Kodi’s treatment over the next six months while the family stay in Germany.

The Killinchy Primary School pupil took ill in February but it was June before her parents Gemma and Andy received the devastating news that Kodi had a tumour and that there was no NHS-funded treatment for it.

Kodi’s school chum James Wilson has opened a Go Fund Me page to highlight his bid to swim around the island off Ballymoran Bay near Killinchy on September 8 at 12 noon.

His mother Clare posted on Kodi’s Krew Facebook page asking for sponsorship for James.

She wrote: “This is not an easy swim. It’s cold and its tidal. I have done it myself and know how hard it is. James came up with this idea himself. 

“Kodi helped James through a hard patch at school and now he says it’s his turn to help Kodi. Any donation, be it big or small, will help.”

Killinchy and the surrounding area has swung into action behind the fundraising campaign with a raft of events organised.

Lisbane After School Club has organised a sponsored walk today in Stormont while a special Zumba Class will be held at Killinchy Presbyterian hall on Tuesday.

Beechfield Nursing Home in the village will be hosting a bring and buy sale from 2pm on Saturday,  August 19, while Killinchy Cycling Club will be running a 25k/80k/150k sponsored cycle on the Sunday.

For a range of other local fundraising activities visit Kodi Krew’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/kodiskrew/.

To donate via the Go Fund Me page visit https://uk.gofundme.com/kodiskrew.