NELL MCANDREW
PAYS TRIBUTE TO JONNY
Copyright 2004 www.leedstoday.net
[ September 24th 2004 ]
Jonny
Kennedy was a special man with a devastating disease.
And yesterday Nell McAndrew and pupils from Temple
Moor High School in Whitkirk, Leeds, were united
in their tribute to him. Leeds-born model Nell
forged a close relationship with 36-year-old Jonny,
who suffered from Epidermolysis Bullosa - a condition
that prevents the skin bonding to flesh, meaning
it falls off with the slightest touch.
Nell
and Jonny met at an event organised by DebRA -
the charity that helps EB sufferers - and were
pals right up until his death last year. When
pupils saw a television documentary about Jonny
earlier this year, in which Nell featured, they
felt compelled to write to her with messages of
love and support. Nell, from Belle Isle, was so
touched by their avalanche of cards that she dropped
by to offer them a special thank you.
Nell
said: "Jonny made a huge impact on everyone he
met and we got on really well. He was such a lovely
person and was committed to helping other people
even though he was in need himself for so much
time. "It is just impossible to imagine what it
must have been like for Jonny and his family to
have to live with EB for 36 years. "It's amazing
how many people - and men especially - have approached
me to say they cried watching the programme. So
many wanted to know how they could help too."
Stacey Stanley, 14, from Harehills, said: "I think
it's really good that Nell came to see us. She's
always helping people less fortunate than herself
and the documentary about Jonny was so moving."
Since
the programme was aired more than £500,000 has
been raised for DebRA, and Channel 4 is to repeat
the documentary on October 4, with an update from
Jonny's mum. Nell said she got straight in touch
with school when she received a package bursting
with cards. Recently, the school also sent cards
and messages to children in Russia after the terrorist
attack in Beslan. "I sat there for ages reading
all of the cards," said Nell. "I forwarded them
to Jonny's mum Edna so she could have a look.
It's been great to come and meet the kids and
make them realise what they did was really special.
"Edna
really appreciated the cards and it must have
meant so much to the children in Russia to have
support from children thousands of miles away."
For more information about Epidermolysis Bullosa,
or to make a donation, log on to www.debra.org.uk
or telephone 01344 771961.
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