My story

In memory of John Stewart, husband, daddy, son, brother, friend,  colleague and sportsman.

John died in April, aged 49, of prostate cancer, after a three year battle with the disease which left him debilitated, yet still an inspiration to many.

John started his sporting career as a non-athlete! Poor hand eye co-ordination meant he was never a great participant in school sports. However, aged 18, he visited his German friend Eckhard and by chance joined up with Eck's Swiss cousins for a cycle ride. 3 Swiss passes in 2 days reduced the others to a train ride home, whilst John finished the challenge realising he was a natural endurance cyclist. After realising he was sporty, in his own, individual way, he cycled the 15,000 mile trip from New Zealand to the UK solo and, realising that boats complement bicycles well, rowed for Pembroke College, Cambridge, for which he won a blade in Bumps.

Scuba diving was another of his great loves at college and led to many adventures, including him being an instructor with Operation Raleigh in New Zealand. He played lawn and real tennis and latterly swam regularly, which meant for a 'non-athlete' he was one of the fittest guys around.

When diagnosed with cancer, he battled with the odds to swim the equivalent of the English Channel in his local pool with his wife and two daughters, aged 13 and 9. In the weeks before his health deteriorated, he was still to be found on his bike. With 'his girls' he cycled 300 miles in 5 days in the Welsh borders! He rowed for his town rowing club, Champion of the Thames, Cambridge, for whom he won two blades, and helped his eldest daughter, Jessica to her first, aged 14. Throughout his illness, and after his death, Champs RC was a great support to him and the girls. 

He also encouraged his younger daughter, Esme, to combine her love of cycling, inherited from him, and her aptitude for swimming and running and to train as a triathlete. He would be proud of her sucess now. 

He always felt there was a sport for everyone and that everybody should be encouraged, not just for he fitness benefits, but for the social ones as well.

The Memorial Fund has been set up to continue his desire to help others get involved with 'the sport for them'.  Funds raised will be distributed by application to the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (www.cambscf.org.uk) for grants from the John Stewart Memorial Fund

My gallery 3

My Teams

My company

My charity

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Charity Registration No. 1103314

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation supporters, who include private individuals and companies such as Cheffins, Ridgeons, Marshall, and Mars, have chosen CCF to help with their charitable giving for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, they seek our knowledge on where the needs are greatest.

Donations 134

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To all the swimmers - good luck

Donation by For the swimmers on 31/01/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Enjoy and have fun in the name of sport.

Donation by Sally Mack on 31/01/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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All the very best!

Donation by Kevin Tongs on 31/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Best of luck to all of you!!

Donation by Alex Storey on 31/01/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Good Luck to you all,

Donation by James Collins on 30/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Go Mandy!

Donation by Jane Cooke on 30/01/12

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Good luck Mandy! Ruth xx

Donation by ruth georgiades on 30/01/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Good luck all of you. Looking forward to seeing a slightly wrinkled Mandy when you've completed the epic swim!

Donation by Chris Cooper on 30/01/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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You brave girl Sally. Good luck! Liz

Donation by Elizabeth Buckridge on 27/01/12

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Great Cause...

Donation by dave barber on 26/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good luck Sally and team with your epic swim!

Donation by Nicola Ibberson on 26/01/12

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Best wishes to you all

Donation by Bob Watters on 25/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Dear All, my very best wishes for the swim. It has been a great idea of yours!!!sending you all my support

Donation by Does not matter Does not matter on 25/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Wishing you all including Tracy a bracing swim!

Donation by Melanie Hingorani on 25/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Best wishes good Luck with the Fund Raising from Vere

Donation by Vere Berger on 09/12/11

£30.00

Donation by Rosemary Mead on 01/12/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

a small contribution for the huge effort Esme made doing her amazing Coast to Coast bike ride in a very deserving cause - with all our love

Donation by Aunt Judith & Uncle David xx on 27/11/11

£50.00

Well done Esme and Dom. Very very impressive. With love from Molly and the Upjohns xxxx

Donation by Sarah Upjohn on 26/11/11

hi Esme, this is great foundation and i hope you reach your goal! x

Donation by Sarah Roper on 25/11/11

£20.00

Wow, Esmeand Dom what a wonderful thing to do for your dad.

Donation by Tim Clarke on 23/11/11

well done to you all. paul, birgitta, hannah and robert murray john xxx

Donation by Paul Murray John on 19/11/11

Donation by Lucy Stewart Van Liew on 16/11/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Donation by Jackie Marr on 14/11/11

Well done Esme and Dom! And thanks for sharing the experience in assembly, too :-)

Donation by Amy and Andrew Barker on 09/11/11

£40.00

Congratulations Esme! Amazing achievement as usual :-) I couldn't do it! John would have been very proud of you! xx Carissa

Donation by Carissa Moore on 09/11/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£3,656.42
  • Offline donations£11,919.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£15,575.42
  • Gift Aid£577.00

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.