Joanne Cash

Joanne Attends Holocaust Memorial Day Event at the Houses of Parliament

Joanne this week attended an event at the Houses of Parliament designed to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2008 and that also served to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Holocaust Educational Trust.

 

The event focused on the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day 2008, ‘Imagine...Remember, Reflect, React.’  Dr Henry Oster, the only remaining member of his family of nineteen after surviving both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Buchenwald was joined by Ikhlass Mohamed Ibrahim who escaped, to London, from war-torn Sudan with her children. Both Dr Oster and Ms Mohamed Ibrahim took the time to share their paralleling experiences of persecution, intolerance and racism that occurred in their home countries more than half a century apart.

Dr Oster commented; “Survivors of the Holocaust won’t be here much longer and we will become the missing link to what happened back then. It is the responsibility of organisations such as the Holocaust Educational Trust to make sure that the Holocaust does not repeat itself. As long as I have an audience to listen, I will tell my story. I feel like I’m doing some good and my story will be remembered and reacted to.”

Talking about the continued relevance of events such as this Joanne said; “Genocide is not a thing of the past and this event not only offered an opportunity to remember those lost during the Holocaust but also served to highlight the fact that history is repeating itself, right now, in places such as Darfur. It is imperative that we support groups such as the Holocaust Educational Trust in educatng people about the Holocaust and in promoting the sense of individual and collective responsibility required to ensure that nothing of its kind ever happens again.”

Click here to learn more about the fantastic work done by the Holocaust Educational Trust

Joanne Delighted at Council's Action Plan for All Stars

Joanne was delighted to hear of Westminster Council’s announcement last week that they are looking to secure the future of the All Stars Boxing Club by liaising with its leaders in order to formulate an Action Plan. Joanne has been working with the club for many months to ensure that it is able to continue providing the Harrow Road community with the first class training and support it deserves. A petition, launched by Joanne last year, to show the need to secure the club’s future has now attracted over 1,000 signatures.

Commenting on the Council’s Action Plan Joanne said: ‘I am delighted by the Council’s Action Plan with the All Stars that will ensure the club has the necessary support and resources to make strong funding applications in the future. The All Stars has a great reputation, not only at producing exceptional boxers, but also at providing a vital community facility for the children and people in the Harrow Road area. Westminster Council’s Action Plan represents an important step in helping to ensure that the club is able to keep serving the community for many years to come. In the meantime, I will be staying actively involved to ensure support continues for this brilliant club.’