Jordyn Godin-Doyle is pictured with her mother Joanna. Jordyn died of a brain tumour in 2018. Her mom is leading a fundraiser to help families this Christmas in Jordyn's memory. Image from Joanna Godin.
A Saint John family is remembering their late daughter by helping other kids in the community.
Operation J-Star is a fundraiser in memory of five-year-old Jordyn Godin-Doyle, who died of a rare brain tumour called DIPG in 2018.
Her mother, Joanna Godin, has always helped families at Christmas but now it’s a tribute to Jordyn.
“We were in the hospital, at the IWK, and people were bringing her up toys and sending stuffies and teddy bears and gifts and she wouldn’t keep any. She would just go around on the ward and distribute them to the kids on the ward because she didn’t feel like she needed it, she felt like she had enough stuff,” Godin said.
Godin, her husband Mike Doyle, her son Alex, along with family and friends plan to hand out gift bags at schools closer to Christmas which will include pj’s, socks, popcorn, hot chocolate, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
She will also need donations of holiday gift bags.
Last weekend, volunteers held their first pyjama drive in Grand Bay-Westfield, bringing in more than $1,400 with the goal to help 600 children.
Godin said there is a specific need for pyjamas in sizes 12 to 16, along with socks.
“I think to reach our goal to buy whatever is not donated, we’ll probably [need] six-grand, plus whatever is donated in pyjamas and stuff,” Godin said.
So far, the fundraiser is assisting families at St. John the Baptist/King Edward, Centennial and M. Gerald Teed schools, along with Westfield Elementary School. Godin said more schools can be added later if needed.
The next pyjama drive will be held on November 27th at the Tipsy Tomato restaurant from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. A donation box will be available on site.
For anyone who wants to contribute, email transfers can be sent to joanna_godin@live.com.
A Saint John family are remembering their late daughter by helping other children and their families. Jordyn Godin-Doyle died in 2018 from a rare brain tumour at the age of 5. pic.twitter.com/QTZIGD14U1
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) October 19, 2021
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