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A Jersey businesswoman, who vowed to go sober for 365 days after noticing her drinking spiralling "out of control", has raised £15,500 for local cancer patients through her alcohol-free year.
So successful was the endeavour that Jo Ferbrache, Managing Director of a local marketing agency, is now looking to continue her sober lifestyle going forwards.
She recently handed over her fundraising efforts in aid of Friends of Jersey Oncology (FOJO) to her friend and cancer survivor Katie Herridge, who now also volunteers for the charity.
FOJO said that the money 'Sober Jo' raised through her sponsored year of going alcohol-free will go towards creating memorable experiences and activities for those going through oncology treatment and their families.
Pictured: Friends Jo (left) and Katie (right) celebrate the fundraising total.
Having gone through 2019 alcohol-free as a personal challenge and starting a blog about her experience, Jo says she realised alcohol was dominating her life and has now chosen to stay sober permanently.
She said: “I am an ‘all or nothing’ person, so my relationship with alcohol was getting out of control and starting to define who I was. I wanted to explore whether I could live a fun and fulfilling life without drinking.
"Although giving up alcohol is not for everyone, it has given me the confidence in myself and made me realise that my life is better without booze.
“With all the tasty alcohol-free drinks out there, as well as a growing social movement promoting health, wellbeing and self-love, I can reassure anyone who relates to my story that a sober lifestyle is possible.”
Now, Jo is focusing on inspiring others to consider binning the booze and will be hosting a number of events throughout the year to show people that they can give up drinking and still have fun.
Commenting on her friend’s achievement, Katie said: “FOJO are so grateful for Jo’s donation. I have loved watching her journey over the last year and how sobriety has given Jo a lifetime of new experiences and happy memories.
“It’s therefore fitting that the money she has raised goes towards creating happy experiences for those going through the toughest of times.”
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