Construction Charity Completes 50th Project On 10th Anniversary By Renovating Home For An Amputee Ipswich Dad Of Four With Cancer Of The Spine
A construction charity has completed its 50th project on its 10th anniversary - after it renovated the home of an amputee Ipswich builder who was unable to finish the extension he started two years ago because he underwent treatment for cancer of the spine.
More than 30 volunteer tradespeople from Band of Builders (BoB) worked tirelessly to turn a building site back into a family home for Jay (James) House and his family of four children in 14 days. The volunteers came from as far afield as Durham and gave their time for free to help a fellow tradesperson.
The charity supports tradespeople, construction workers and their families through crisis by providing practical help, emotional support and financial assistance when illness, injury or life-changing circumstances make everyday living unsafe or unmanageable.
Jay had built the exterior shell of the two-storey extension himself, but the work came to a halt in August 2024 when he was diagnosed with cancer of the spine. The house had been left a building site, and the ground-floor work meant the family had been left without a functioning kitchen. For the last 18 months, they have managed with a makeshift kitchen unit on wheels with an air fryer, portable hob, washing machine and dishwasher – but no sink.
In partnership with Howdens, the renovation included installing a new kitchen after the old one was ripped out. Howdens supplied a new Frome kitchen in Ash Green complete with Lamona appliances, worktops and storage solutions. For the rest of the home, Howdens supplied Oak and Grey rigid vinyl flooring, doors, skirting and architraves.
There were emotional scenes when Jay and his family returned to see their completed home for the first time.
He said: “it’s amazing, that they’ve done so much in such a small space of time. If I was still able to do it, it would have taken me months and months, tacking one room at a time.
“We can’t thank Band of Builders enough because it’s lifted a dark cloud that has been hanging over our family – and now we have a family home that will be a joy to come downstairs to every morning.”
Jay’s story
Jay has always been very active and a keen sportsman – including an eight-year stint as a scuba diving instructor before returning to the UK and resuming his career in the construction industry.
The 49-year-old damaged his ankle during a cross-country race in the 1990s, and after years of worsening issues, his right leg was finally amputated below the knee ten years ago. But that didn’t stop Jay working as a sole trader builder. A couple of years before the amputation (and in great discomfort), he completed a 2,000-mile charity bike ride for Cornish Air Ambulance by cycling from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and back again – as the service saved his life following a bike crash in 1991.
After being in pain with his back for a considerable amount of time, Jay was finally diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) – a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. In Jay’s case, it caused ten vertebrae to fracture and fuse because they had calcified, meaning that his spine collapsed, leaving him five inches shorter. During this period, he also lost a third of his body weight – which saw him drop to 60 kg.
Jay underwent a combination of chemotherapy and stem cell treatment – which involved extracting 3.5 million stem cells from his body. After he underwent chemotherapy, the cells were reinserted into his body. Jay refers to this as a “factory reset” for his body and has subsequently had to have all his childhood inoculations all over again.
Although his cancer is under control and he has to have a blood test each month, Jay now walks with a stick (he says that the cancer destroyed his spine and now the leg is making movement an issue), and his doctors have stressed that he should never lift anything weighing more than 10 kg – which is maddening for Jay after leading such an active lifestyle.
BoB completes 50th project on its 10th anniversary
BoB is best known for delivering rapid, high-impact home adaptation and renovation projects, mobilising the construction industry to support its own – and completion of the 50th project is a proud milestone for the movement (which secured charitable status in 2019), which has mushroomed from a single act of kindness in May 2016.
The founder posted on social media asking for help to renovate the home of his close friend and colleague Keith Ellick, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The overwhelming response from across the construction industry saw the project completed in days. It demonstrated the power of construction workers coming together to support one of their own.
Speaking about reaching the landmark number of projects 10 years virtually to the day of its very first one, the charity’s CEO, Gavin Crane, paid tribute to every person who has supported BoB from the first project to the 50th.
“As Band of Builders completes its 50th project for Jay and his family, we stand not just in front of another finished home but behind fifty stories of hope rebuilt, dignity restored and lives changed for the better. Every nail driven, every wall raised and every hour given represents the unstoppable spirit of our industry coming together when it matters most. This milestone isn’t about numbers – it’s about people, compassion and community. We are proof that when tradespeople unite, we don’t just build houses: we rebuild lives.”
Gavin also stressed the partnerships that the charity has formed to allow it to mobilise materials, funding, expertise and volunteers to deliver life-changing impact on the ground. He pointed out that this project was delivered in partnership with Howdens, the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier, which donated a kitchen that was installed by award-winning kitchen fitter Tom Easter.
Director of design at Howdens, Adrian Heaton, said; “Jay is an inspiration, building his business while facing injury and lots of challenges. It was an honour to partner with Band of Builders again, along with our Hadleigh Road depot in Norwich, to donate the Howdens kitchen to Jay and his family and to help make a difference.”
BoB also wishes to thank its supporters and sponsors who provided materials – as well as local businesses that delivered food and refreshments. This includes: Reconomy Trade, Edmonson Electrical, Wolseley Plumb Centre, Jewson (materials and tool hire), CT1, Travis Perkins, Timco, SIG Roofing, City Plumbing and Brewers.
Please visit our website: www.bandofbuilders.org