And so… what would World Haemophilia Day have to do with an Independent Publisher and a children’s picture book?

Well, probably not much, unless, that publisher was …

and the book was WHOA! JOE... 

Who knows where inspiration comes from?

For Whoa! Joe, it came when a grandmother was driving to see her grandson.  A grandson who happened to be born with Severe Haemophilia B, but nonetheless, a grandson who loved climbing and helping and playing make-believe.  As should all 3 year olds!

Joe continues to be an inspiration.  For he is one of the fortunate ones, in that, he lives in a country where diagnosis and treatment are second-to-none. (We all have Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity to thank for that!)

It is estimated that 1 in 1000 are born with a bleeding disorder. Yet, over 75% of people with haemophilia around the world, receive inadequate testing and treatment or none at all.  

In many countries there are no adults with haemophilia!

Whoa! Joe is a celebration of childhood, loving relationships and imagination.  An inspiration to live our lives to the full by remaining in touch with that child within – the one who knows no bounds and therefore is free to dream and create a world s/he loves… A world where all children get to live life to the full.

Whoa! Joe, how you’ve grown!!!

 

Love called upon Inspiration…  And Inspiration came in the form of a song…  A song with pictures… Pictures which called out for a story… 

And so, the song became a picture book! Maybe, always WAS a picture book, in the Land of Inspiration!  

WATCH THIS SPACE for a PAY-IT-FORWARD PROJECT, coming soon!