Brave Barnet members fundraising effort takes tumor youngster closer to holiday

An impressive £1,251 has been raised by generous members of St John Ambulance who held a charitable leg wax in aid of a desperately ill youngster.

Waxworks of Pain

Family and friends of terminally ill schoolboy Luis Fernandes rolled up their trouser legs, in a fundraising attempt designed to provide him with a once in a lifetime holiday.

Luis, from Barnet, is just eight-years-old and has a golf ball-sized tumour on his spine which has already resigned him to a wheelchair.

The youngster had previously been a very popular and spirited member of the St John Ambulance Badgers at the 368 Barnet Quadrilateral Division, so his fellow members set out to put a smile on his face and raise enough money to send him on a Euro Disney holiday before he is too poorly to travel.

Three adult St John volunteers took part in the one off ‘Waxworks of Pain’ event at Barnet, watched by a number of Luis’s friends and family. The idea was conceived by Riley Falco, Cadet Leader for 368 Division.

He said: ‘I took over running the Cadet Division here in Barnet from Luis’s Mum Jessica in 2009, We all got to know Luis really well as he was one of our young Badger members, and because he would often come to Cadet sessions with Jessica.

Sadly, he was diagnosed with a diffuse brain stem glioma and despite best efforts, we now know that it cannot be fully treated. For that reason, and having watched the family go through so much, we decided among the St John members at Barnet that we wanted to raise enough money to help Luis, Jessica and dad Miguel have a special holiday while he can still enjoy it.'

The event itself saw Riley, Richard Smith and Jayson Winter all have their legs waxed at the St John Ambulance Barnet Borough Headquarters in Priory Grove.

Jessica Fernandes says she has been touched by the gesture, 'Obviously it has been a really difficult time for Luis and for all of us in the family,' she said, 'but knowing that our friends at St John Ambulance wanted to do this for us was a great boost. I’ve been a part of the organisation for many years now, and it really is true that it becomes like a family. This lovely idea has certainly proven that and I feel very touched.'

Riley added: 'The event really proved everyone’s enormous generosity and although it was painful, it was absolutely worth it to get Luis this opportunity of a holiday. The final amount from the event so far is £1,251.35...but we intend to keep the money rolling in.'