In December 2014, one of our founding trustees Jessica Ma sadly lost her battle with cancer. Jessica was not only a trustee to the Caring Matters Now charity, but also an amazing, courageous and inspirational friend to many in the charity and beyond.
Caring Matters Now established the Jessica Ma Award to publicly acknowledge and remember Jessica’s outstanding and unique contribution to our charity. The prestigious Jessica Ma Award is for an individual or group who have gone above and beyond in raising funds for Caring Matters Now. All those that completed the Fundraising Event Registration Form on our website throughout 2017 were in with a chance of being selected!
We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2017 Jessica Ma Award is Sheila MacKenzie.
Jessica’s husband Peter, and her children Jasper & Pascale said “We are delighted to announce Sheila MacKenzie as the winner of the 2017 Jessica Ma Award for her continued fundraising efforts and for her brave 20th Anniversary Skydive for CMN!”
Sheila said “Thank you so much for this wonderful award. To have the names of Caring Matters Now and Jessica Ma on an award means so much to me. Jessica was one of the most inspirational people I had the pleasure of knowing and this leaves me quite emotional. Her legacy lives on through both her lovely family and the charity. I’ve also been thinking today of the strength of last year’s winners and their daughter Holly. Their lives have touched so many of us and encouraged us all to do anything, no matter how small.
I first met Jodi in Bristol in 2003 when Colin, Eva and I attended a family day when Eva was only 2 months old. We were so grateful for the support at that happy event. And here we are today at this exciting stage of the charity and Dr Kinsler’s work. I know how much any money raised is crucial for its progress and the future of our loved ones. As far as the fund raising is concerned, I’ve always played it safe; coffee mornings, selling crafts, cajoling people to dip into their pockets etc and left the physical challenges to others! This year I was able to step it up a bit as I didn’t have to climb a mountain or cycle the length of Britain. All I had to do was jump out of a plane, attached to a parachute and another human being. Easy!
As I held my breath for the tricky bit and then floated for the rest, I had time to think. How fortunate we are to have each other and those who guide us at CMN. How wonderful to see the support and encouragement reach our family members. And how fantastic to see the creativity of those who keep the charity so healthy. I love to read about what people do whether big or small. It all helps. Eva makes crafts to sell at a festival each year and the comments of those who buy are wonderful and enormously encouraging.
Can I take this chance to thank each of you for everything you do for my family and here’s to a new year and new horizons.
Sheila x”
This year’s 2017 Jesscia Ma Award runner up is Victoria Hamilton.
Peter, Jasper & Pascale said “We are very pleased to present the 2017 Jessica Ma runners up place to Victoria Hamilton for her efforts in successfully swimming the channel and raising a significant amount for CMN”.
Victoria said “I am surprised and delighted that Peter, Jasper and Pascale chose me as the runner up for the Jessica Ma Award. I feel honoured to receive it. Thank you so much.” Read Victoria’s story here.
Congratulations to you both and thank you for challenging yourselves to support Caring Matters Now and all those affected by Congenital Melanocytic Naevi.