What is The Joshua Foundation?

The Joshua Foundation (TJF) is a Cardiff based national charity that was created in September 1998 to provide holidays and experiences for children with terminal cancer and their families where the child is aged between birth and 19. The Joshua Foundation was launched on September 27th 1998 with a 5k fun run/walk that raised over £16,000 and on January 17th, 1999, a huge party at Planet Hollywood, London, saw the first gathering of children from oncology units across the Uk and was the beginning of TJF experiences.

We take our referrals from Oncology units via the Social Workers. We do not means test and we have no restrictions on a family having received assistance from any other wish granting charities or other organizations. Whereas other wish organizations provide one off experiences, the Joshua Foundation effectively “ adopts” the children and their families providing them with on-going experiences and memories.

We organise individual holidays and experiences as well as group gatherings such as our annual trip to Lapland, our annual Halloween party, Breakfast with Santa and Easter Bunny and other events.

Who is Joshua?

The charity takes its name from Joshua Cornelius, from Caerphilly, South Wales, who was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Round Cell Tumour of the abdomen, a terminal cancer, in December 1996 and who died on December 4th 1998, aged 7. After his diagnosis, Joshua, had to undergo intensive and aggressive chemotherapy. To offset this in his 23 months of treatment, he travelled the world - California, New York, Florida, Lapland, Israel and 4 trips to Euro Disney - living life to the full. An experience the Joshua Foundation endeavours to repeat for others. You can find out more about Joshua here