Friends of schoolboy who died from cancer are banned from wearing charity wristbands in his memory
Filed under: Advice and health
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The friends of a schoolboy who died following a long battle with cancer have been told they will be sent home from school if they wear wristbands sold for charity in his memory.
Jordan Cobby, 14, died last March after being diagnosed with a tumour behind his eye.
Wristbands in memory of the brave teenager were sold at his school, Nuneaston Academy in Warwickshire, with proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
However 18 months after his death, pupils at the school have been told they can no longer wear the wristbands as they are not part of the school uniform.
The school is suggesting pupils' planners are redesigned with a new cover in memory of Jordan instead of students wearing the wristbands. But Jordan's friends, pupils' parents and his mum, Joanne Meuse, say the bands have sentimental value.
"Jordan was a former pupil of the Nuneaton Academy and was, still is, a much-loved and valued friend of these students," says Joanne.
"When he passed away in March 2011 from cancer, I and my family found a great deal of comfort from the many thoughts and actions of these young people. They showed great compassion and a maturity far beyond their years.
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"All of them should be congratulated for having such strong and caring values. The Nuneaton Academy should recognise this, encourage and be very proud of them.
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The bands do not affect their learning but it is their way of showing respect and keeping a part of Jordan with them.
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Joanne said the school had been happy to let pupils wear the bands for last 18 months, but the headteacher, Helen McEvoy, told her last week that she had been unaware pupils were wearing them, and had put a stop to it.
"If that is the case, then it proves the point that the bands are unobtrusive and not distracting in any way," says Joanne.
"I am very angry and shocked but even more so heartbroken for the students, that after all these months have passed, they are now being asked or rather told to remove their bands by Mrs McEvoy, which I believe is bad judgment and leadership. What is this teaching the students?'"
Zoe Ashby, whose son Harris was a friend of Jordan's, said she couldn't believe it went the school rang her to say Harris was being sent home as he refused to remove his wristband.
"I don't think the headteacher realises how much Jordan's death affected them. The bands have sentimental value and mean so much to the kids.
"My son Harris played football with Jordan since they were seven and this morning I got a call from the school to say he was being sent home as he had refused to take the band off. It's just ridiculous."
Another parent, Kay Southall, whose son Daniel was a close friend of Jordan's, has launched a petition to lift the ban. So far around 350 parents have signed it.
No one from the school was available for comment.
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