JET HARRIS MEMORIAL FUND & A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM JANET

[audreyk]

Hi Everyone,

I have received many messages recently asking for news of the Jet Harris Memorial Fund. Also, with the discussions about the book, Billie Davis and The Rapiers tribute show this weekend, and the fact that it would have been Jet’s 72nd birthday next Wednesday (6 July), I guess that, naturally, Jet is in the minds of many people at the moment. So, Janet and I wanted to take this opportunity to bring you up to date with what has been happening. First, a message from Janet:

“Hi Everyone,

I want to thank all of you once again for the ongoing support that you’ve been giving to Jet’s memory. Also, thank you to all the people who have written to say how they felt about Jet and what he meant to them. As you can imagine, this is still a very painful time for me, but it means so much to read your kind words. I hope to be able to meet up with some of you in the near future.

In the meantime, Audrey and I have been talking about how best to use the donations given to the Jet Harris Memorial Fund. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has donated so far. We will announce the total that has been donated very shortly.

When the fund was started, we said that the money was to go to cancer research and so we have spent much time looking at the work done by the various charities. I’m really pleased to be able to tell you that we have found a research project taking place at Imperial College, London and supported by Cancer Research UK. The research trials are being conducted into ‘Cancer of Unknown Origin’. This is the type of cancer that Jet had. We have met with representatives of Cancer Research UK and we have decided that the donations from the Jet Harris Memorial Fund will be given specifically to support this important research.

We also wondered whether we could do a bit more. We thought how great it would be to try to fund this project in Jet’s name. So, we are currently talking to Cancer Research UK about whether to link the Jet Harris Memorial Fund with CR-UK with the aim of continuing to raise funds specifically for this research project.

Jet was very brave, but it was terrible for me, and for others close to us, to see him endure endless tests, biopsies, scans, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and yet to know that the primary site of his cancer was never found. This is something almost incomprehensible to me. It breaks my heart to know that the research is too late for Jet, but I hope that you will help us to make a real difference to help people who may be diagnosed with ‘Cancer of Unknown Primary’ in the future. What a wonderful thing this would be to do in memory of Jet.

I’ve asked Audrey to be the contact person and to take this forward on my behalf, but we’re in constant touch so I will be involved all the time!

Thank you again,
Janet”

Just a quick footnote from me … this is really only a first update about the Memorial Fund and to let you know of our idea of raising funds for this research project through a linking of the Jet Harris Memorial Fund with Cancer Research UK. We had hoped to make a proper announcement just before Jet’s birthday, but the person we’re liaising with at CR-UK is on holiday!! So, please bear with us, we’ll have a lot more information available in the coming days/weeks. In the meantime – if you want to know more - or if you think that you might be able to organise a fundraising event, or offer ANY help at all – please contact me by PM, email, etc.

We all know how much Jet loved his fans. He always had time for everyone …even when he was very ill he was still determined not to let anyone down and he continued to perform until a few weeks before his death. I know that we all have time constraints and money worries – but please think about whether you can give just a little time to help us to do this in memory of Jet. We can’t do it without you!!

Best wishes and many thanks,
Audrey

[Stratpicker]

Lovely, brave, sensitive and loving words from Janet, who is clearly still hurting.
A wonderful idea to donate the money coming in, hopefully continuously, to this special branch of cancer research.
Info on the Fund was not included in the Post - SO, for those who wish still to contribute please note the following info -

To donate to this Fund use the following details via your on-line Banking
HSBC
Branch Sort Code 40-46-39
Account no. 61794353
Account Name: Jet Harris Memorial Fund.

for donations outside the UK
Swift Code: MIDLGB22 IBAN: GB64MIDL40463961794353

Janet / Audrey - have you thought of setting it up so those who want to use Paypal can contribute that way?
In this modern society, Paypal is a fast and safe way of sending money to someone and may well help swell the Fund more.

Best regards
Ian

[jimuc]

Audrey
Would it be possible to organise some sort of, for lack of a better expression, "whip round" at Shadowmania.
It would be an ideal chance to swell Jets memorial fund as there will not be a better opportunity to have so many of Jets fans in the same place at one time.
If everyone who attended even contributed a pound (I feel sure everyone would give more) it would swell the coffers for this most deserving charity.
I hope you do not mind me suggesting this, it is just an idea that might be worth mulling over.
Regards to Janet and yourself
JIM

[neil2726]

Top idea Jim! Im sure that a substantial amount could be raised at Shadowmania!

[audreyk]

Hi Ian, Jim and Neil,

Thank you so much for your replies and suggestions!

Ian - thank you so much for your positive response and also for your suggestion about PayPal. This is one of the things we'll be talking about with Cancer Research UK in the next week or so. Some of our discussions are about whether we'll be able to link in with their site so that people can donate direct. Also, we hope to have information about Jet and the Memorial Fund on the Cancer Research UK site and to set up a Facebook page etc. I'll keep you and everyone informed.

Jim and Neil - thank you for your great suggestion. Of course I don't mind you suggesting things!! The more ideas the better! I've spoken with Bruce and he has been very kind and very supportive of the idea of the Jet Harris Memorial Fund. He has agreed in principle that we can do something at Shadowmania. Maybe a raffle for example. Whatever we do will need people to help!! We should also have some flyers about the research project and the Memorial Fund by then.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this post - either here or by PM. Please, please keep your ideas and thoughts coming. Also, we need people who can offer their skills to help the project. I'd love to hear from people who might be able to help with flyers for the Memorial Fund for example.

Many thanks
Audrey

[neil2726]

Hi Audrey
Hopefully I will be at Shadowmania so if you need any assistance on the day selling raffle tickets or taking a collection I'm more than happy to help!

Neil

[audreyk]

Hi Neil,

That's fantastic! Many thanks for your offer of help! I'll PM you.

Best wishes,
Audrey

[Arpeggio]

A very worthy cause indeed and most fitting to have Jet's name allied to it. Most of us probably know of immediate family, relatives and close friends who have been struck down by this terrible disease. I also know that many ShadowMusic members use their musical abilities to raise money for numerous good causes - which is another fantastic aspect of this site. Despite his own serious health problems - Jet pushed himself to the limit (and beyond) to help others out. He really shouldn't have been at Amersham last December. He defied medical advice to go along (although he was too ill to play a set as originally planned) because he wanted to support his old chum Craig Douglas. Putting an extremely brave face on things Jet chatted with fans and signed autographs throughout the entire event. Finally, at Fareham's Farnham Hall in February of this year he played half a dozen numbers in what turned out to be his final public / concert appearance just six weeks before he passed away. Jet was gravely ill that night - but, once again, he was happy to chat with fans, sign autographs, have photographs taken etc. He didn't want to let the fans and the promoters down. Furthermore - he wanted to be there because the concert was supporting "Help For Heroes". Bruce has already decided to pay his own tribute to Jet (& others will too I'm sure) at this year's Shadowmania. He is 100% behind the aforementioned plans re:Jet Harris Memorial Fund / Cancer Research UK. Shadowmania will see an enormous gathering of Shadows devotees. It would be great for anyone who so wished to contribute to this important project as well as to honour Jet's memory at one and the same time. Lots of people are working very hard behind the scenes - so many thanks to Janet and Audrey for keeping everyone updated about this project and for all of their unstinting efforts during a very difficult (still grieving) time.

Rob