[Red Moon]

Hundreds march in support of Jade Goody

HUNDREDS took to the streets of Loughton to show their support for Jade Goody.

Friends and well-wishers marched for an hour from Jade's beauty salon in Station Road, along High Road, to The Academy in Langston Road on Saturday afternoon (Feb 28).

Many wore tee shirts printed with photographs of Jade and messages of support for the 27-year-old mum-of-two who is dying of cancer.

They finished with prayer penned by organisers Jerri Lee, 24, Danielle Holland, 30, and Jane Collins, 42, before releasing 500 balloons into the air.

Jane, from South Woodford, said: "It was beautiful. It brought a lot of people together and helped increase awareness of the need for cancer screenings.

"It started off as a small idea on Facebook, but we soon realised we would have to tell the police and newspapers when we has such an overwhelming response to it."

The event, which raised thousands of pounds for Jade and her sons Bobby, five, and Freddie, four, has been criticised by some Guardian readers who feel the reality-TV star has received support not available to other suffers of the disease.

Jane said: "People are entitled to their views and we take on board what they are saying.

"We realise Jade has had opportunities and made money from avenues that are not available to other families.

"But Jade herself has come from nothing, and has always retained her innocence, and we feel that if we can use her situation to improve cancer-screening rates then that can only be a good thing."

Upshire-resident Jade, who was admitted to a hospice and underwent operation to remove a blockage her bowel over the weekend, is said to have been "touched" with the support she has received from the community.

Source: Epping Forest Guardian