You Don’t Know Jack is a charitable fund set up in the memory of our pal, brother in law and good lad, Jack. Jack took his own life last year as a direct result of a gambling addiction.

Jack had wrestled with episodes of gambling from the age of 17, beginning with fixed odd betting terminals then online gambling. He was a bright, beaming and caring lad, making the lives of all those around him infinitely better.

If someone like Jack can be affected by an addiction such as this, it truly shows that anyone can be. Whilst as a society we are just starting to understand the issues of substance addiction, very little is known about gambling addiction and even less about online gambling addiction. Imagine having the temptation to gamble constantly within arm’s reach, from the phone in the palm of your hand, the computer on your desk, to the adverts on the television in the corner of the room.

Whilst those addicted to drugs and alcohol display symptoms, a gambling addiction is much harder to identify, diagnose and treat. Not only that, but research shows that gambling addicts are much more likely to commit suicide. You Don’t Know Jack has been set up to raise awareness and understanding of gambling addiction in addition to campaigning to reduce gambling-related harm.

We are walking the Herriot Way, a 52-mile hike through the Yorkshire Dales, over the Easter bank holiday weekend. This is to raise money for You Don’t Know Jack and as a tribute to the big lad in the sky, our lovely Jack.