A COURAGEOUS mum who has raised over £100,000 in her fight against cancer, has been recognised with a national honour.
Joyce Rothschild has been given a British Citizen Award for her services to volunteering and charitable giving.
The British Citizen Awards (BCAs) were launched in January this year to honour the incredible accomplishments of individuals in society who positively impact their communities. BCAs are awarded twice annually, and recognise ‘everyday’ people whose achievements may otherwise be overlooked.
Joyce (59) of Solihull, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 40, at a time when she had two young children under the age of ten.
This inspirational woman went through radical surgery and chemotherapy, but then after her mastectomy she had an agonising 12 month wait for further treatment because the correct equipment wasn’t available.
Joyce then decided to raise money for her local hospital to help buy the much-needed equipment, so others didn’t have the wait she endured.
Joyce researched, wrote and sold a general knowledge quiz, asking for a minimum donation of £2 for each entry, and has continued to do so for the past 18 years, raising in excess of £100,000.
For two years Joyce donated the money raised to Birmingham Queen Elizabeth hospital, and has since continued to donate funds to Macmillan Cancer Support.
The demand for the quizzes is ever-expanding with thousands of entries each year.
Each quiz has its own theme and comprises of 100 questions, attracting entries from far and wide, including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong.
A further effect of the quiz has meant that Joyce has become known as a cancer survivor, and been able to talk to many women who have had to face the same diagnosis, giving freely of her time.
Joyce is also trained in counselling and coaching, being a wonderful friendly support to many women who are left reeling from the implications of their diagnosis.
In addition, Joyce spends many hours a week working on a range voluntary projects including leading her Synagogue Choir.
She was also shortlisted for the JustGiving awards for 2014 and was recognised in the top ten of the Jewish Chronicle “Mensch of the Year”.
Joyce is one of 30 medalists who will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony on Thursday, July 9, at the Palace of Westminster.
All BCA recipients have positively impacted society undertaking various activities in support of a number of causes. Each will receive a Medal of Honour, inscribed with the words ‘For the Good of the Country’. Medalists are also invited to use the initials BCA after their name.
Speaking about her award, Joyce said: “I’m incredibly excited to be honoured with a British Citizen Awards.
“When I started the quiz, I never thought I’d still be doing it 18 years later.
“I started it to raise money for a piece of equipment that the hospital didn’t have whilst I was going through my treatment, to help others in the future – I never thought it would take off like this.
“The quiz now has a life of its own and it’s still growing each year. It raises money for a fantastic cause, whilst bringing life and laughter to many people’s lives.”
