Why Bpositive?
Bpositive was borne out of one Acute Leukaemia patient's struggle to find a suitable outlet for his own questions needing answers. Jonjo Rooney was diagnosed with ALL on December 16th 2006 at the age of 23. Like a bolt out of the blue his world and the worlds of those closest to him were changed irrevocably, forever.
Everyone tried their best to keep Jonjo's spirits up and encouraged him to be positive at each step. Ironically, Jonjo was to discover almost immediately that his own blood group was B-Positive and with every session of chemotherapy and each saline drip administered there was no escaping from this message, Jonjo was being told to 'Bpositive!' This became his mantra as he embarked upon his own personal journey. Throughout his treatment Jonjo spoke of his desire to talk to someone who knew what it was like to be where he was. Someone who could relate to the experience he was going through; a human face that wasn't a doctor or a nurse or related to him, just someone who understood. At the height of his illness he began telling people how, when he made it through his treatment he would make it his mission to try to help others who had been dealt the same unfortunate hand as he had. He would provide them with the support that he so desperately searched for himself. |
This led to a communication floodgate opening. Jonjo was put in touch with many people who had the disease both here and as far afield as South Africa, Italy and the Philippines. Relationships based on common ground, a shared empathy and understanding were formed and this turned into friendships and a strong bond between current and former patients and their families beyond.
Jonjo's vision was always to get more people involved in helping each other in any way they can, from patients, families and friends to health care specialists and beyond. This leads us to the birth of 'B Positive,' an outlet for all people affected by the disease, whether themselves personally, or someone in their family or a friend, to communicate with each other in order to help, inspire and believe. Jonjo's infectious spirit, personality and his positive approach to everything he does has since led him to complete bikeathons, half marathons and the annual London Marathon twice, all in aid of the charities that saved him. In July 2012, after being nominated by LLR for his inspirational achievements, Jonjo was chosen as an Olympic torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympic games. Jonjo's story is not uncommon. Every day people's lives are shaken and rocked by Acute Leukaemia. Bpositive can offer support and help to these people, their families and their friends, providing them with a network of people who have walked or may now be walking in their shoes... |
Jonjo Rooney speaking in 2015 to Bloodwise about how it felt to be diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
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