FROME people have helped raise over £60,000 for a local man after he suffered life-changing injuries in an accident at work before Christmas.
More than £61,000 has been raised for Frome man Jamie Mines, who is in intensive care after losing both hands and a leg after suffering an electric shock in December.
Friends started raising money after Jamie’s accident last month; it has since hit national headlines and started fundraising attempts in the town and across Somerset and Wiltshire. A non-league football tournament will be held at Frome Town Football Club in March and local woman Georgina Cox has put collection buckets around the town.
Ian Kennedy, a lifelong friend of Jamie’s, originally wanted to raise £20,000 to help with medical costs and support for Jamie’s girlfriend, Harley, and their twin baby daughters.
Ian said, “We raised the £20,000 in 24 hours and, when I heard that Jamie had to have amputations I pushed the target up to £100,000.
“I didn’t expect the donations to come in so thick and fast, but it shows what a guy Jamie is that so many people are doing so much to help his family.
“What the money is spent on will be left up to him. Whether it is needed for prosthetic limbs or to support his family while he can’t work will be for him to decide.”
Jamie suffered life-changing injuries from an electric shock while working as a scaffolder in Swindon, where he now lives. He has been in a critical condition in hospital since before Christmas.
Ian, an electrician, said it was ‘a miracle’ Jamie had survived the accident. He reported on Monday that Jamie’s condition had improved; that he had been taken off the ventilator, started ‘the most basic of rehabilitation’, and been able to watch football on television in his room.
Jamie is a keen footballer and has played for numerous local teams, including Frome Town FC. The non-league community has played a big role in the fundraising – Frome Town supporters have already donated £1,378, Radstock FC £465, and hundreds of pounds have already been donated by numerous other clubs.
A football tournament between 12 local teams will be held at Frome Town’s ground on Berkley Road on Sunday 19th March, in an all-day event to raise more money.
Friends of Jamie’s in Frome, Georgina Cox and Lottie Wright, with the help of Harley’s family Meg and Aaron Ware, have put over 60 collection buckets around town so people can donate while out and about.
Georgina said, “I’ve known Jamie all my life and I had to do something when I heard about his accident – it was devastating news.
“Thanks to the carnival committee, I have put buckets in shops, businesses and schools around Frome and the villages.”
The buckets are expected to be out for around three weeks before the money is added to the fundraising total.
Orchardleigh Golf Club held an auction and raised over £4,000 towards the fund, and Chester House Social Club donated £500, raised at its New Year’s eve party.
To find out more about the campaign and to follow Jamie’s progress, visit the ‘Raising money for Jamie Mines’ Facebook page, @FriendsofJamieM on Twitter, or www.gofundme.com/raising-money-for-jamie-mines
