Making Time Count
I’m Julie Murray, a Humanist Celebrant based in Broughty Ferry, proudly part of Fuze Ceremonies and The Fuze Foundation. In December 2024, I was asked by a local funeral director, William Purves Funeral Director, Broughty Ferry, to conduct a celebration of life ceremony for a young woman, Joana Knowlton, aged just 35 years. Little did I know the impact this phone call was about to have on me.
Our 2025-26 Charity Partner Announcement
Charity Partner
One of the most rewarding parts of being a Fuze celebrant is our commitment to supporting like-minded charities. Through The Fuze Foundation, we’ve raised awareness and thousands of pounds for Scottish charities, with every couple married by Fuze playing a part—contributing a portion of their wedding fee to these causes.
I was thrilled that our Fuze Celebrants chose MND Scotland as a partner charity this year. Having lost a family friend to MND at just 50, I know the heartbreak it brings. Supporting MND Scotland’s vital research and care means so much to me.
MND is a devastating illness that affects the brain and spinal cord, preventing signals from reaching muscles. This leads to progressive weakness until the body can no longer function. With no cure, symptom management is crucial to maintaining the best possible quality of life.
Jo with her sidekick rescue dog, Chino
Meeting Jo’s Mum
I arranged to meet with Jo’s Mum and began to hear and learn about this incredible young woman, and her strength and positive attitude throughout her short battle with MND. The initial visit with her Mum, Anna, was heartbreaking. Jo was Anna’s only child, a much longed for baby. Jo’s early years were difficult, with the marriage break up of her parents and prolonged bullying throughout her school years.
Despite this, Jo developed into a beautiful, clever, strong, and talented young woman, pursuing her love of art, and achieving an Honours Degree in Fine Art, followed by a master’s degree in forensic Art. Jo’s outstanding talent was widely recognised, and her work was regularly shown in exhibitions. Jo later started a job as a Forensic imaging officer with Police Scotland, which she loved making some incredible friendships.
Her life was taking off. She managed to buy her own flat in Dundee, loved her job, found a beautiful rescue dog, called Chino, along with many great friends. Jo was very health conscious, rarely drinking alcohol, always cooking from scratch and keeping fit at the gym and during long walks with Chino.
Jo’s passionately kept a detailed blog of her MND journey
Jo’s Diagnosis And Blog
It would be one day in February 2019, when she went with her Mum to test drive a car that she noticed she could not turn the key in the ignition. Thinking it was just stiff, she persevered, and it worked. Jo thought she had a trapped nerve, and feeling like a hypochondriac, she went to her GP who sent her for some tests done at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee When all her tests came back negative, Jo thought that this was a good thing. Jo then went on a family holiday in May 2019 with her Mum and partner and It was at this time Anna noticed Jo was struggling to climb stairs and she was tripping and falling.
Final tests were done and on 12th August, at age 29 years, Jo received the most devastating news that instantly shattered her world. A diagnosis of MND was confirmed. Despite the difficulties and weight on her shoulders, this did not stop Jo. She started to write a BLOG from day one, and reaching out to the MND Warriors group for support. She also decided to make a bucket list, with the first entry being a trip to Iceland. Jo’s journey is fully detailed in her blog. It’s incredibly inspirational, hugely insightful, very honest and with Jo’s positivity and smile shining throughout, despite the increasing challenges that she faced. Jo hated that her Mum, recently retired had now become one of her carers, uprooting from her home in Peebles.
Jo had to rely on Carers as her condition worsened and had to sell up and move to a more accessible house. She had banked her voice early on to allow her to still sound like herself as speaking became more difficult.
I was so moved by Jo’s story, I felt I had to take action – 200k Your Way was my way to give back
Ceremony Of Remembrance
Prior to writing and conducting Jo’s Celebration of Life ceremony, I sat one weekend and read her entire blog. I got a real sense of her determination to make every moment of her life count, for herself, and for others impacted by MND, and, of course, for her Mum and Mitch. Her story had a significant impact on me. I was at times in awe, felt despair, anger, but throughout, Jo’s sense of humour shone through. Jo passed away on 16th November 2024. As a result, I wanted to do something to support MND Scotland, however small and will be taking on the 200K Your Way challenge in March 2025.
On the day of the ceremony, it was standing room only. The room was full of friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours. In particular, there were incredibly beautiful words shared by her three closest friends, who described a wonderful, talented vibrant young woman, with hopes and dreams for her future like anyone else her age. I read some beautifully touching words written by her mum Anna as part of the ceremony.
Jo with her mum, AnnaAnna’s Message Of Hope
“I thought that I could not have any children. After giving up hope, Jo came along. My miracle baby that I had longed for all these years. A lovely baby, always happy and smiling. She was unique. We were very close all through Jo’s life, we did everything together, enjoyed family holidays, girlie weekends, shows and cinema. Jo was my rock and excelled at everything she did. A perfectionist, with a wicked sense of humour, lovely, caring, vibrant, inspirational person, she was always caring for and helping others.
My daughter, my friend, my shoulder to cry on, my rock. The many happy memories. A life so full of happiness and drive that should have gone on for her to reach her goal of marriage and a family. A life cut short with an unforgiving disease that no one should have to endure.
Jo always felt so guilty for me having to look after her. She said, who will help you with all the technical things of today that you are unsure of. Who will be there for you when your time comes and say what a brilliant mother you have been? I couldn’t have wished for a more loving caring inspirational beautiful daughter who I love and miss so very much. I understand the tough battle she fought with such determination, strength, and willpower.”
Fundraising In Jo’s Memory
Jo and those who loved her have been able to raise large sums of money to help with the MND cause. My little part is to do something this March and if that helps, does something or encourages others to take action for MND Scotland, then, in Jo’s memory, I’ll smile.
I encourage you to find your own way to support this incredible organisation, to help find a cure and stop this death sentence happening for the sake of others. This experience has given me a keener sense of how important it is to make the most of every minute we have, from the mundane to the extraordinary. Let us make time count and help those with MND to have the best possible outcomes.
DONATE TO MY CAMPAIGN HERE
Blog written by: Julie Murray, Fuze Celebrant
