John’s Club are pleased to announce that Jo Smith and her team have completed their 100 mile walk around the Isle of Wight. Despite Jo sustaining up a leg injury on the Saturday, she battled on and completed the 100 miles just after midnight on Sunday 14th April 2024.
On the way she visited Cowes, East Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Bembridge Seaview and many other Island towns.
This will be a vital fundraiser for our charity and we will release the figure of money raised in due course, once we have totted it all up.
Many thanks to Councillor Michael Lilley who came out to see the walkers off
Jo said.
“I watched my father grow this club with nothing but a few pounds and a lot of love and determination. Even after all these years he is unaware of the impact he has had on so many people’s lives and the hope and happiness he has brought them.
“We are at a time when so many people are struggling, not just financially, but emotionally as well and I believe that the club brings a massive support to many Island people not only offering services, but a friendly, safe place and someone to listen, something many take for granted.
“I have done this walk to help raise awareness and funds and I thank all those who have supported me in my determination to make it to the finish line.
“Thank you to the members who joined me along the way and achieved their own goals. Thank you to everybody who said hello and thank you to all who donated.”
Phillips: These times are difficult for charities
John Phillips (Chairman and Founder of John’s Club) said,
“I am really proud of my daughter Jo, who achieved the hundred mile walk, and the members who joined in along the way, bringing vital funds for the organisation.
“These times are difficult for charities, when people need even more support with the cost of living and other pressures that are put on people with both hidden difficulties and those you can see.”
A unique service
John’s Club provides a unique service offering Social and Recreational activities for disabled people, people with learning difficulties and mental health. We encourage our members to learn new skills, expand their knowledge, fulfil their potential and thereby increasing their independence.
Members can enhance their employment prospects, make new friends and boost their self-confidence. By improving their life skills members are able to integrate into the community more fully.
The impact of social inclusion
of disabled people benefits the community by helping non-disabled to understand disability issues and members also benefit by making a contribution to society.
Parents, guardians and carers also benefit by the club providing them with some respite.
Our aims
Our aims are; to promote the benefit of social, sporting and educational activities to those both young and old on the Isle of Wight with a learning or physical disability and/or mental health problems. To provide a social club for them, encourage their independence, further develop life skills and to give respite to their parents or guardians and carers.
Find us on Facebook or for more information about John’s club please call us on 864215 or 07702 340 193 and ask for John Phillips
Show your support
You can still make a donation to the fundraiser, by heading over to the GoFundMe page to add your donation.
New projects
We have also new projects underway. Our centre at Oakfield Football Club (5 Slade Road Ryde) is being developed into a community Centre with a warm space, a youth service planned and all the services being provided by our members, which is giving our members life enhancing experiences.
Day centre
Our hub at 62 High Street Shanklin is now where we deliver our day centre activities to our members as well as supporting them with day to day living skills.
New training site
Our newest project is that we have taken on the House of Chilli site at Arreton and will be using that as a training site to provide training in work skills for our members who would not, under normal circumstances, be afforded this opportunity.
News shared by John on behalf of John’s Club. Ed
