In 2022, Joseph’s Goal celebrated its tenth anniversary with one of Wigan Borough’s highest honours, a Believe Star in Wigan town centre.
The Believe Stars recognise people and organisations whose achievements and contribution have brought pride to the borough, with previous recipients including Sir Ian McKellen, Billy Boston, Roberto Martinez and Dr Nayyar Naqvi.
For Joseph’s Goal, receiving a star during our tenth year was a particularly special moment.
Ten years of Joseph’s Goal
Joseph’s Goal was founded in 2012 following Joseph Kendrick’s diagnosis with Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH), an ultra-rare and life-limiting genetic metabolic condition.
What began with one Wigan family determined to help their son and other children affected by NKH grew into an international fundraising effort supporting vital scientific research.
When the Believe Star was announced in 2022, Joseph’s Goal had already raised more than £880,000 for NKH research.
Wigan Council recognised Joseph’s Goal alongside fellow Wigan charity Joining Jack with both organisations marking ten years of fundraising and awareness work. At the time, council leader David Molyneux said the charities had become known around the world and praised the prestige their work had brought to the borough.
Find out more about Joining Jack and its work supporting research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
From £880,000 to £1.3 million
Four years later, that Believe Star also gives us a chance to look at how far Joseph’s Goal has travelled since.
Our supporters have now helped raise £1.3 million for NKH research, supporting work led by Professor Nick Greene and his team at University College London, alongside research in Colorado led by Professor Johan Van Hove.
The numbers have grown, the research has progressed and our commitment remains the same.
The star in Wigan is a permanent reminder of the people who have made that possible – Joseph’s family, trustees, fundraisers, businesses, football supporters, volunteers and the wider community that has stood alongside us since 2012.
Proudly Wigan, supporting research around the world
Joseph’s Goal may have grown far beyond Wigan, but this town will always be part of our story.
We are incredibly proud that the work inspired by one Wigan boy has helped support NKH research with international reach.
And we are equally proud to see Joseph’s Goal permanently recognised among the people and organisations that have made a difference to our borough.
Fourteen years on, there is still much more to do.
But every so often, it’s worth looking back at how far we’ve already come.
