A Just Giving fundraiser page with nearly one hundred supporters raised close to three thousand pounds in Joe’s memory. Joe’s mum, Gerry (pictured here with Alex Fitzgerald) had vowed to keep the money safe until it could be used to the benefit of young people in Southport.
Fast forward three years, when Alex approached Joe’s family with his idea for Joe’s Giants. The family couldn’t think of a better way to honour Joe’s memory and as Gerry said,
“If Joe had been here, he would have run all over those hills with you!”
Just prior to Joe’s passing, he told his mum that he wanted to work with teenagers and they’d talked about doing something that combined Joe’s love of the outdoors (Joe was an outdoor activity instructor) and something of benefit young people’s metal health (his mum is a counsellor).
Gerry said, “When Alex told the family about his idea’s for Joe’s Giants and what he wanted to achieve, we all agreed that Joe would absolutely have wanted his fund to help kickstart the charity.”
So far the fund has helped toward the costs of training and qualifying The Giants in mountain safety and to lead groups and other essential supplies and equipment.
Joe’s Giants is a ’not for profit’ organisation and puts all money raised into helping people ‘climb their minds’ and benefit their mental health in the mountain ranges of the Lake District and North Wales – places that Joe both loved and spent much time.
