A popular Sheffield piercing parlour will be holding a fundraising day this weekend to help 3-year-old Jude Mellon-Jameson start potentially lifesaving cancer treatment in America.
The Owl and The Pussycat will be offering piercings on a walk-in basis from 10am to 7pm on Saturday the 5th of March, with 100% of profits from piercing sales set to be donated.
The studio’s aim is to hygienically and safely pierce as many people as possible and a raffle and competition will also be taking place on the day.
Customers will be able to get any kind of piercing with the exception of oral and complex piercings that may take extra time to do.
Studio owner Lisa Lazenby, 37, said: “I’m a mum and as a mother you see your children and put yourself in that situation and just the thought of him not getting the chance to get treatment because they don’t have the funding, it devastated me. I cried for 2 days straight and I was saying to everyone I could, please donate, please do something.”
As a business owner, she continued: “We just really wanted to help. I’m in a position where I have a business that can make a little bit of money for them and if everyone does their bit, they’re gonna hit that target, which would be amazing.”
The news of the fundraising day comes just after Jude’s family launched their new fundraising campaign with the charity Solving Kids Cancer.
The new campaign will allow them to claim gift aid where applicable and provide them with extra support from other parents whose children have fought Neuroblastoma.
So far, the family have raised £43,627 and aim to get to £350,000 to get Jude the treatment he needs.
Jude’s mum, Lucy Mellon-Jameson said of the piercing fundraising day: “For someone to donate all of the money for a whole day of work, it just feels amazing. I was really overwhelmed to be honest and with each step that I’ve seen more things added to it with the raffle and the competition, it just feels even more special.”
“Thank you just isn’t enough, we could say it a thousand times and it just would not be enough and we are just so touched by it because Jude is our son, and for this to be done for just one individual child, and for people to get on board with that I just find it really special.”
“And just how much people are willing to do- people are out there doing sponsored runs and and businesses are coming to us with the ideas we would just never think of but its there area of expertise. With The Owl and The Pussycat I just would never have thought of that, it has really touched us.”
Having been a customer in the past, Miss Mellon-Jameson added: “I remember going in November 2019 when they had their apprentice Bryony learning to do piercings. I went and had my ear pierced and I’ve constantly followed them on social media. What’s made it even more overwhelming is it’s not as if I’ve given thousands of pounds to this business, it’s just the kindness of them wanting to help us.”
Apprentice Bryony (Left) Studio Owner Lisa (Right)
She added that the support from the community in Sheffield has left them feeling incredibly proud and feeling as though the whole city is behind them.
“The kindness will be something that will never leave us. We’re making a scrapbook for Jude to show him all the things people are doing, because in 2 or 3 years time I will never remember all the small individual things people have done, but having something to show him will help him to go on to repay that kindness to other people.”
Jude’s family are welcoming all ideas for fundraisers as they continue to raise money for his treatment, and the more fresh and unique the idea, the better.
There are many ways you can help Jude: by making a personal donation; by sharing and following his story on Facebook and Instagram, holding a fundraising event or getting sponsored to take on a challenge.
To donate by text, send “JUDE” followed by any whole amount up to £20 to 70450. This will cost your donation plus your standard
network charge.
To support Jude’s campaign, you can get in touch with the fundraising team at 0207 284 0800 and fundraising@solvingkidscancer.org.uk
