British social media duo Josh & Jase have delighted fans (and annoyed some haters) in Michigan with their recent return to the state.
And while they’ve enjoyed their ferry ride in Saugatuck and wolfed down a coney dog in Detroit, on Saturday they made a special stop in Grand Rapids that they called “one of those days that will stay with us forever.”
The pair spent their afternoon meeting with pediatric hospice patients and their families. At a downtown ice cream parlor and nearby park, Joshua Cauldwell-Clarke and Jason Riley engaged in casual, friendly chats with the families, while also supplying the kids with gifts including PlayStation 5 game consoles.
They walked away touched by the experience.
“We wanted to keep our usual positive energy, and we did our best. But if we’re honest… it was impossible not to get emotional,” they said on their Facebook page. “We met some of the strongest, kindest families we’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. The courage those children and parents show every single day is something we’ll never forget.”
They said it was especially emotional for Josh, who recently became a father.
“Seeing firsthand the love, care, and support this hospice provides made us realise just how important places like this are,” they said on Facebook. “They don’t just care for children, they wrap their arms around entire families during the hardest moments imaginable.”
Matt Hoffman, director of philanthropy at Hospice of Michigan, helped organize the visit. He had followed along with the pair’s winter trip to Michigan and reached out to them after they announced their summer return.
“These patients and their families — some, if not all, of them follow Josh & Jase online so this was a great opportunity, not only for them to meet them … but also to meet other families in our service,” Hoffman said.
Hospice of Michigan, which operates 14 locations throughout the Lower Peninsula, provides hospice and palliative care services to patients with advanced illnesses and support to their families.
Josh & Jase, who have more than 10 million followers across several social media platforms, used their reach to bring awareness and solicit donations for the nonprofit, which helps families of hospice patients of all ages pay for medical expenses not covered by insurance.
Hoffman said the organization has already seen an influx in donations, but he’s just as pleased about the influx of joy they brought.
“We live in a world where there can be so much evil and they are providing so much good and positivity,” he said. “They are great for this state.”
Josh & Jase are expected to continue their trip to Michigan through Aug. 17.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Josh & Jase said this stop in Michigan will ‘stay with us forever’
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
