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Fundraising show to help attack victim Joe Shaw from Ramsgate walk again

A special show is being held to help a young man walk again after he was brutally attacked on a night out leaving him with catastrophic injuries.

Joe Shaw had returned from Australia to see his family when he was set upon by thug Liam Bayliss near Rokka Bar in Ramsgate in March last year.

Joe Shaw before the attack
Joe Shaw before the attack

The attack left the self-employed plasterer, then 24, in a coma with brain damage, being fed through a tube, and he had to have half of his skull removed.

He lost the ability to talk, walk and carry out basic tasks.

But resilient Joe is working hard to regain his independence, and family and friends are rallying round to help him, with a fundraising campaign set up to pay for alterations to his home and equipment to help in his recovery.

Next month, a show called When You believe is being held in his honour and to raise more funds for Joe.

Organised by Charlotte Rintoul, who is Joe's massage therapist and a dancer, it will be held at The Centre in Birchington and include dancing and singing as well as a raffle with a host of prizes.

'We want people to come and be a part of his journey as we believe he can make it' - Charlotte Rintoul

"Joe was such a strong, independent young man who enjoyed travelling the world and aspired to become a model," said Ms Rintoul.

"However due to this tragic event, the opportunities were taken away from him. The brain damage means he no longer has the ability to move without assistance or independence.

"Hosting this event means a lot to all his friends and family because we know that he can get better, but we want people to be aware of his condition and what we could achieve with him if he was provided the correct support financially and emotionally.

"Raising the money will help Joe with his recovery with the main goal for him to be able to walk again and become independent once more.

"His speech is not particularly great but we have found that the better he physically gets, the better his brain works which improves his speech.

Joe Shaw in hospital
Joe Shaw in hospital

"His journey to recovery is slow and government funds are very limited, so we wish to provide the money for Joe’s equipment.

"We want people to come and be a part of his journey as we believe he can make it."

The event is on Friday, January 31, from 7pm-9pm.

Adult tickets are £12 and for children £9 and available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whenyoubelieve

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