Inspired by a Worcester Park boy’s battle with leukaemia, a giant Jimi Hendrix painting is to be raffled off to buy toys and a television for Epsom Hospital’s children’s ward.
Five-year-old Joshua Overy, of Handside Close, had cancer diagnosed on June 18 and has since received chemotherapy, lumbar punctures, bone marrow tests and blood transfusions at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton.
Joshua’s less intensive treatment takes place at Epsom Hospital, where his father, Lee Overy, says there are only two mobile TVs and a limited range of toys across the whole paediatric ward.
When Mr Overy set out to raise enough money to buy new toys and a 3D TV, long time friend and artist Elmo Hood decided to sell the one-square-metre painting in a raffle, which has already raised £1,200.
Mr Overy, 38, said: "It’s obviously been an incredibly hard time for our family but it is absolutely amazing the support we get from people like Elmo.
"I can’t say how grateful we are to have a friend who will just lend a hand to our cause without a second thought.
Mr Hood, a contemporary artist from London, said he was moved to help ‘lovely lad’ Joshua as soon as he heard about his condition.
He’s even been able to elicit support from Canadian television actress Nina Dobrev, who tweeted a link to Mr Hood’s fundraising page.
He said: "By all accounts Joshua’s really just taken it on the chin and been incredibly brave with the whole thing.
"And those children at the hospital deserve new toys and TVs and games consoles more than anyone."
Joshua suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, meaning he is at a high risk of infection, and spends a considerable amount of time isolated from fellow patients, which further highlights the need for new toys, according to his father.
Mr Overy said: "The last few months Joshua’s had every problem going – fevers, infections, the lot. When he is in isolated care he can’t even go into the playroom.
"And so it’s really important there are enough toys and televisions – to stop them getting too bored."
Raffle tickets – at £5 apiece – can be bought at www.rafflecreator.com/pages/8030/childrens-ward-epsom-hospital until Wednesday, and to see how Joshua gets on with his treatment visit www.facebook.com/Team-Joshua-955467991141476/timeline/
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