Guardtech Group in Haverhill raises funds for old school friend who suffers with multiple sclerosis
A Suffolk-based cleanroom construction company has helped raise money for a man suffering with multiple sclerosis.
The Guardtech Group, based in Haverhill, led a campaign that helped raise over £17,000 for school friend, Joe Martin from Woolpit, who has been living with the condition.
Mark Wheeler, commercial director for the company and Joe Shackley, marketing manager, joined forces with old friends from Thurston Community College after seeing that Mr Martin's quality of life had deteriorated. After struggling to eat a wide range of foods, Mr Martin had dropped to seven stone in weight.
Mr Wheeler and Mr Shackley had initially set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money so that Mr Martin, a fellow schoolmate, could receive medical therapy known as FMT which couldn't be provided through the NHS. Guardtech pledged £4,000 towards the campaign.
Mr Wheeler said: "As close mates of Joe’s, we’d seen his deterioration from the start of his MS diagnosis up to the present day and we’d grown really concerned over how much weight he’d lost.
"So one night we decided to set up a GoFundMe page in the hope that we might be able to raise a few thousand pounds to help towards this FMT treatment he felt might help him.
"As a family business, we try to do our bit to help out as many good causes as we can and the Guardtech directors kindly agreed to donate up to £4,000, with the hope that we’d get around the same amount in outside donations."
After the GoFundMe page was shared on Facebook, donations came in thick and fast which saw the total reach nearly £10,000 in 24 hours.
Ex school mates of Mr Martin's, some he hadn't seen for more than 20 years, also chipped in to the support the cause.
A motorised wheelchair was offered to the campaign as well as support with building work for modifications to the house that Mr Martin was due to move into.
The money raised from the fund-raiser reached £13,276, bringing the grand total to £17,276 with Guardtech's donation.
"We were all blown away by everyone’s generosity," said Mr Wheeler. "Every single donation was amazing – and Joe was incredibly grateful for the kindness shown to him.
"It was a wonderful thing for him to see just how much he means to so many people and we’re really hopeful this can help him achieve a far better quality of
life going forward."
