Bromsgrove leukaemia survivor up for hero award - The Bromsgrove Standard

Bromsgrove leukaemia survivor up for hero award

Bromsgrove Editorial 4th Sep, 2014 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

A BROMSGROVE leukaemia survivor is one of 28 finalists shortlisted for a prestigious national award for his inspirational charity work.

Jonjo Rooney has been nominated for TalkTalk’s Digital Heroes Award for forming Bpositive – a cause which gives online support to patients, families and friends affected by leukaemia across the world.

Residents now have until September 28 to vote for the 30-year-old and his cause and help him be in with a chance of winning a £10,000 grant to help further his project.

Jonjo, who has been in remission for seven years, was first diagnosed with leukaemia at age 23 and had to have chemotherapy and a life-saving bone marrow transplant.




Since then, he has dedicated his life to raising awareness by talking to patient support groups up and down the country and fund-raising for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research by taking part in bikeathons – he has run the Great North Run and the London Marathon twice.

Jonjo will also be setting off on a 500-mile charity cycle tomorrow (Saturday) to meet his bone marrow donor in Hamlin, Germany.


The website Jonjo formed has developed a significant online presence and a community where patients, friends and families can share their thoughts, feelings and offer support to those in need.

The Fund-raising Digital Hero will be announced at the House of Commons by an esteemed judging panel – category winners will claim a £5,000 grant and the TalkTalk Digital Hero 2014 will be given a £10,000 one.

Jonjo said: “After being diagnosed with leukaemia I was desperate to reach out and connect with anyone who had been down a similar path.

“This ambition and desire led me to establishing my own charity Bpositive in 2013.

“My ambition is to further develop and sustain the ways we engage with those affected by acute leukaemia, ensuring everyone who is touched in some way by this destructive disease has people on hand to connect.”

Dido Harding,TalkTalk’s CEO, said: “Our TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards are a great way of rewarding small and local digital projects which are using technology to benefit their community.

“As one of the UK’s biggest broadband providers we have long held the belief the Internet is a force for good and these awards are a key part of our commitment to help make British homes and communities better off.”

Baroness Martha Lane Fox, on the judging panel, added: “Digital skills are a hugely important part of modern life, and it’s crucial everyone in the UK has the opportunity to take advantage of their benefits.

“This year’s finalists have done great work using digital for good and I urge everyone to get involved and vote.”

Visit talktalkdigitalheroes.co.uk to place your vote or use the #digitalheroes on Twitter.

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