Man gets waxed to raise money for seven-year-old Hornchurch girl fighting cancer

Craig prepares for his painful fundraiser (Image: Archant)

Craig Jackson, 41, decided to have a full body wax at Kearns gym, Abbs Cross Gardens, Hornchurch, to help raise money for Joni- Mai, who is fighting a rare form of cancer for the second time in her young life.

His decision paid off as he managed to raise around £1,200.

He had originally been aiming to raise £500, so the fundraising total exceeded his expectations.

Speaking about the painful fundraiser, his wife Jane Jackson said: “It did hurt but he was very brave. He’s ok now, just a bit sore.”

Craig and Joni- Mai’s father, Kevin Stevens, used to work together at Havering council around 14 years ago.

Craig and Jane have since moved to Cambridge, but they have made sure to stay in touch with the family.

Jane said: “They’re our friends and we just wanted to do something.

“My husband worked with Joni’s dad and they kept in contact.”

Asked how Joni- Mai’s parents felt about her husband’s fundraising, Jane said: “They were pleased, they appreciated it.”

Jane said that people had been very supportive and generous when they heard about her husband’s plan to raise money for Joni- Mai’s treatment.

“Considering we have just asked friends, colleagues and on Facebook, it’s been a good response,” she said.

Joni- Mai was first diagnosed with ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of primary bone cancer found in children, in 2011. In September 2012 she was in remission but around 15 months later received the heartbreaking diagnosis of relapsed ewing’s sarcoma.

Her parents, Holly and Kevin Stevens, are now raising money to take their daughter to America for specialist treatment.

To donate, please visit www.gofundme.com/ForTheLoveOfJoni and comment “craig’s wax” alongside the donation, or for information about future events visit www.Facebook.com/ForTheLoveOfJoni. To read more about Joni Mai and other fundraisers, click the link on the right.