The Rawganics Cancer Backup Fund was setup in response to the plight of Jo Chevli (born Swindell aka Jobug), a member of our Dirty Stop Outs promotions collective, who fought long and hard against malignant melanoma cancer before losing her fight in on September 21st 2003. The fund co-ordinated our efforts to support Jo through alternative therapy and care after she was told that conventional medicine could no longer help her. This included funding of a weeks therapy and care at the Bristol Cancer Help Center, as well as a several weeks therapy and care at the Hufeland Clinic in Bad Mergenheim, Germany. The support of all the Rawganics family behind Jo and her husband Kiran undoubtedly gave Jo real hope, helped her prolong her fight and improved her quality of life and comfort throughout 2003. Jo spent the final weeks of her life at Arthur Rank where she was overwhelmed by the quality of care and the love she received from the staff there. Collections from her and Kiran's wedding day and the celebration of her life at The Orchards in Granchester were added to existing funds in the account and will go to make up the £10,000 donation. We would like to thank all the Rawganics family and all of Jo's nearest and dearest for the amazing support throughout her battle.
Jo died having got her dream of marrying Kiran and becoming Mrs Chevli. She is at peace now and without pain. Her life and legacy will live on amongst her friends and with the work of the Backup Fund in her name. Jo spent her final weeks at Arthur Rank House at the Brookfields Hospital site on Mill Road in Cambridge. Jo & Kiran were married there in a beautiful ceremony liad on in the gardens where they exchanged their wedding vows. The Hospice is a MacMillan Nursing Hospice caring for all types of cancer sufferers. Kiran said the building should be painted gold for having made his wife so happy.
At The Orchard in Grantchester, where the couple had originally planned to marry, Kiran said he was sorry he could not have had more time with his "incredible lady".
"A light like that can never be put out," he said.
"I know Jo is waiting for me, she is happier now and in a better place."
A service was held at Cambridge Crematorium earlier in that day.
Jo told the Cambridge Evening News in August: "We are constantly looking for other avenues and unusual treatments so it is vital funds keep coming in. It's not easy once traditional medicine has left you to die but the more I discover through my quest, the more it can help the many other people for whom chemotherapy is not the answer."
One love Jobug, Kiran, Charlie, Likkle Jo, Sam, Max, Hoff, Bob, Kirsty, April, Dan, Fwing, Carl, Des, Phil, Daz, Tony, Judy, Anne Marie, Andy, Marly, Anabell, Anna, Nessa, Phil, Bonce, Les, Anthea, Sarah, Cathy, Soph, Nicky Butt, Cathy, Megan, Janet, Isla, Antonia, Loftie, Ashley, Helen, Agent A, Esta, Chris, Sam, Bernadette, Chaddy, Bob, Kate, Elenor, Cecille, Bee, Joe, Jenny, Gee, Carl, S, Ax, Charlie, Eva, Marina, Guy, Jane Denny, Heidi, Heather and all who helped us in our journey - Jo's shining on us all.
Back on Monday 28th April we held a fundraiser at the Junction featuring Word Association, Delegates of Culture, Mongo, Taskforce, DJ Skully, Brad Baloo & the Dirty Stop Outs at the Junction in Cambridge. Members of the Dirty Stop Outs crew passed through the venue on the night of the fundraiser, collecting additional donations. Word Association and Delegates of Culture sold copies of their EP's throughout the night and donated all proceeds to the fund. All the artists performed for free on the night and all proceeds were donated towards the Fund. DJ Skully brought tears to the eye when he told the crowd of the loss of his best friend to cancer, and dropped £100 cash into the donation bucket. The ticket sales on the night of 28th raised £1825 and the donations on the night reached a staggering total of over £4200! In a single, special Monday night nearly a third of the target was reached. Thanks come from the bottom of our hearts to all those who contributed their beer, taxi, ital, rent, food or petrol monies in aid of the Rawganics Cancer Backup Fund.
The existing money in the Backup Fund raised in Jo's name (c. £6200) will be added with the collection from the celebration of her life at the Orchards, and a cheque in the region of £10,000 will be donted to the Arthur Rank Hospice Chraity.
We will be continuing to raise funds for the Rawganics Cancer Backup Fund, in order to help offset the costs of private alternative cancer therapy, information and counselling for others in Jo's position. If you are in a similar position, wish to talk to someone who's experienced what you are going through and can help you find alternative methods of treatment and care for cancer, please get in touch by emailing info@rawganics.net. Kiran Chevli's contact details are available on request and we have a load of web resources that we can link you with.
Watch out for another benefit show and auction soon, as well as compilation CD's of donated tracks from both Rawganics artists and the whole of the Cambridge music community.
Massive props to all who attended and lets keep that special vibe going into the rest of the year and the rest of our lives.
If you are interested in more information on alternative cancer treatments please see the links below.
Peace
The Dirty Stop Outs