Jodie has let us know that she is undertaking a step challenge in memory of her beloved Dad, Stafford, known as Taff. Taff was a gentle man, an amazing husband and grandad, loved visiting sanctuary donkeys and was an upholsterer by trade. He worked hard and loved his family. At the start of January 2026 Taff began to feel unwell. He received a diagnosis of CJD on 4th February, and passed away from CJD in the early hours of 28th February 2026. Jodie says:
My dad, Taff, wasn’t just my dad — he was my world.
He was the kind of person everyone loved being around. He was caring, funny, and incredibly intelligent, but more than anything he had the biggest heart. He always put the people he loved first and would do anything for his family. Losing him has left a space in our lives that can never be filled. I’m raising money in his name so that something positive can come from such a painful loss, and so more awareness and research can help other families in the future.
You can support Jodie’s efforts at her JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jodie-elam-1
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Taff with a friend at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary Christmas 2025
