Yesterday I met up with Music Therapist Sophie McCumesty (pictured), Ray Travasso from Suffolk Music Therapy Services and Siobhan Castle, Play Specialist at Ipswich Hospital for a review meeting. It was lovely to hear about the enormous difference music therapy is making to patients and their families. In the year September 2022 – August 2023, over 250 music therapy sessions were provided for 198 children and families.So proud that Jess’ charity is able to support such a wonderful music therapy service in Jess’ memory. Music therapy was not available at Ipswich Hospital when Jess was undergoing treatment. I think Jess would be very happy that so many children and families are being helped by music therapy. As always, thank you to everyone who has helped to make all of this possible.
Huge thanks to Mr. Woodley for choosing Jess Grant Celebration to benefit from his wonderful last concert at Kesgrave High School, which raised an amazing £700 from ticket sales and donations. We felt very privileged to be there at such a fabulous performance by so many talented former/current students and teachers.
Every penny of this incredible fundraising will be used to fund music therapy in Jess’ memory.
Photo by kind permission of KHS.
What a fantastic night!
Thank you so much to everyone who came along last night and supported Jess’ charity, raising the brilliant total of £680. It was a wonderful turnout and lots of fun was had.
Huge thanks to Barry for a very entertaining quiz, with tonnes of great music.
Big thanks to Jo and Caroline for all their help. Thank you very much to everyone who donated a prize to the raffle and to all who bought raffle tickets. And, many thanks to Jess’ primary school, Cedarwood for letting us use the hall.
Thank you so much for all the very kind messages we have received. It really does mean a lot to us.
Thank you to the person who nominated me, I really did feel overwhelmed when I heard I’d been short-listed for a Pride of Britain Award. Despite being completely out of my comfort zone, it has been lovely to have the chance to shine a spotlight on Jess’ music therapy charity. Many thanks to Play Specialist Siobhan Castle, Music Therapist Sophie McCumesty and Amy, Ben, Maisie and Evie Norton for agreeing to take part in the filming – you were all amazing.
And, we’d just like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who has supported Jess Grant Celebration, helping us to fund these wonderful music therapy services on the Children’s ward at Ipswich Hospital and at Zest, St. Elizabeth Hospice.
Many many congratulations to Gary for walking 50km on the hottest day of the year. What an incredible achievement! Thank you so much to Gary for choosing to raise funds for Jess’ and Callum’s charities whilst undertaking this epic challenge. Gary has raised an astonishing £1121. This means so much to us and will go such a long way towards helping us to continue funding music therapy in Jess’ memory ❤
An enormous thank you to Ipswich Hospital Community Choir, who celebrated their 10th Anniversary singing with The St. Peter’s Band in a wonderful concert, raising an incredbile £735.77 for Jess Grant Celebration. We are so grateful to this choir for all their support, first performing at JessFest and this year choosing Jess’ charity and The Ipswich Hospital’s Children’s Appeal to benefit from their anniversary celebration. The concert was fabulous, with all of the songs picked meaning something to the choir. We were extremely touched when they sang ‘A Kind Of Magic’, a song they sang for us at JessFest.
You can view photos from the concert at:- https://www.ipshospchoir.org.uk/gallery/photos/
The final total for my 100km Lake District Walk is a sensational £2576 (+ £357.50 gift aid). Thank you so much to everyone who supported me in reaching this fabulous total. 2 weeks on and I’m still trying to process how I actually made it to the finish line. I know that your encouragement and support of my challenge played a huge part in keeping me going. Jess was with me every single step of the 153,328 steps. On the really steep hills, when my body was telling me to stop, I could just imagine her telling me: “Come on Mum, keep going, you can do this!” Memories of Jess’ strength, determination and resilience were with me all the way. I’m delighted to have completed this tough challenge and to have raised so much money for music therapy in memory of our wonderful daughter Jess 
Another training walk of 50km (31.13 miles) completed today. This is me before I set off at 7:30am this morning. I’ve not taken a photo of me after walking 50km for obvious reasons :-). Today I incorporated a few miles of walking across the pebble beach at Aldeburgh, just for fun! No, seriously, I’ve read there is a punishing 16km of stony path at the end of the 100km walk, so I wanted to do some training on very difficult terrain. Off to bed soon, completely exhausted. Please help me reach my target of £2100 in memory of Jess. Thank you x
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anita-grant8
Massive congratulations to ‘Speedy Sam’ who lived up to her name again today, smashing her London Marathon PB by 2 minutes, finishing in 3 hours 25 mins and 42 seconds. Amazing run, well done Sam. Thank you so much to Sam for raising a fabulous £362, plus gift aid of £54, for Jess Grant Celebration. This is the third time Sam has fundraised for Jess’ charity running the London Marathon. We really appreciate all of your support Sam.
