A tribute to brave, beautiful orange Ollie

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Martin Moodie
Martin Moodie is the Founder & Chairman of The Moodie Report.

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This Blog comes with a splash of orange. Not because I have turned into a Dutch football supporter nor because I am supporting one side of the Irish sectarian divide. No, I am wearing orange in celebration of a remarkable individual and a remarkable life, and as a tribute to an inspirational young man who is no longer with us.

My Blog of 4 November 2014 began like this: “Meet Ollie.  A most inspiring young man.

Ollie is 9 years old, the nephew of Sara Stevens (sstevens@thenuancegroup.com), HR & Training Manager for The Nuance Group (UK) down in Southampton.

Ollie is currently in Birmingham Children’s Hospital undergoing gruelling treatment for a rare bone cancer called Ewing Sarcoma.

He wants to raise money for the hospital; in particular he feels that the hospital needs a ‘chill-out’ room for children like him to relax, chat and just feel normal.”

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Readers of this Blog responded very kindly to Ollie’s appeal and during nine months of tough chemotherapy he somehow drove a campaign to raise over £28,000 for charities that helped him in his battle with the disease – thus of course helping countless others.

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On 18 May 2015 Ollie had an operation called a ‘rotation pasty’, which involved his leg being partially amputated and then grafted back onto his thigh bone, making his ankle bone his new knee joint. Two months later he was fitted for a prostheses and he began the long road to recovery from the tumours in his leg and lung.

Except the road led to an alternative destination. Late last year the cancer returned to Ollie’s lung and he had yet another struggle on his hands, this time even greater.

It would prove insurmountable, despite his incredible spirit.

On 10 January Ollie passed away. He was at home with his brothers and sisters and Mum and Dad, the way it should be.

This week, on 19 January, his family and other loved ones celebrated Ollie’s life. They did that in the most lovely way – by all wearing a splash of orange, Ollie’s favourite colour. And therefore, so do we.

Footnote: If you would like to make a donation in honour of Ollie’s life, and to help other children facing such challenges please visit: http://www.mollyolly.co.uk/

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  • What a lovely article and report on an amazing young man, thank you for letting us share in reading all about him. So refreshing that you dedicated time and space to this non direct work related story. A very decent thing to do.

  • So very sad to read this today. Ollie was such an inspiration and thought nothing to push the boundaries to help others despite his own situation.

    My condolences to his family and friends. I am sure heaven is awash in orange to welcome him.

  • Thank you so very much Martin, your support for our family has been so wonderful and we really are grateful for it.

    Ollie’s special day was full of love, heartbreak and laughter as we remembered him. Although he was only 10 years old he was wise beyond his years.
    He used to say the following which I think was just perfect: “If you want a good day, YOU have to make it a good day”

    He will be missed x