By
James Martin
1 min read
A 27-year-old who chronicled his successful fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a JC column is to be the face of Chai Cancer Care’s Pesach appeal.
Gideon Schneider (right) has signed a letter being sent to 10,000 donors highlighting the support he received from Chai.
Now in remission, Mr Schneider raised £12,000 for the charity while undergoing treatment. “The work Chai does both in terms of counselling services and in organising activities is crucial in helping cancer patients regain morale,” he pointed out.
“With cancer, both the sufferer, their friends and family are hit heavily. Chai gives you moral support and activities to keep busy. Even after I’d finished rad-iotherapy, Chai helped me with advice on how to get on with my life,” added Mr Schneider, who hopes to resume a career in marketing or editing.
Assisting Jews across the religious spectrum, Chai depends on voluntary funding to meet its £1 million-plus budget. Client numbers have doubled in the past year.
“We are relying on the testimony of Gideon’s journey to hammer home to people how vital our work is,” said Chai’s Jo Etheridge. “We hope to raise over £100,000 but equally as important is to raise awareness about the work we do and that it’s available to the whole community.”