I never really talk about her and I don’t really know why. So lets change that, here’s a little information; 

Jane. Beautiful name right? Short and simple, 4 letters but it doesn’t need anymore. It suited her to the ground as she was a stunner (I may be slightly biased here though, as I am the absolute spit of her). 

She was a caring person who appreciated everything that she ever had and never took anything for granted. Adventurous and determined. A lover of the mountains because of the dramatic scenery, but come summer she longed for the beach and sea because of its calming nature. The life and soul of a party, singing, laughing, entertaining and then by the end of the night taking photos of her feet after a couple of drinks (thankfully she never had a camera phone).

In her life she achieved a lot, but I’ll keep it short with just a couple of examples. 

Neither of her parents drove and they couldn’t afford a car, so she would have a few lessons and then sit on the top deck of the bus at the front and pretend to drive. She passed first time. 

She went to a polytechnic in Bradford studying English, the first in her family to have higher education, retrained as a teacher, decided she wanted to become a radiographer and sat her GCSE chemistry in her 40s to allow her to join the course, getting a B. All this while bringing up me and my brother, being a wife, a friend and caring for her mum.

She was a black belt in Karate after taking it up in her late 30s, an achievement she loved. Throughout the country she was known to the karate community as G.I.Jane, a name she was proud of. So proud of all this she was in fact buried in her black belt and had 4 of the top ranked karate experts in the country as her pall-bearer.

There’s a million more things I can say. Literally millions. But I think I will finish with this. 

I love my mum, I’m proud you were my mum. Hopefully you’re proud I’m your son.

Who? 

This is not about cancer, f*ck cancer, this is about Jane.  

In her 20s, she decided to do a half marathon for a charity called Candlelighters. Throughout her life this was her charity of choice, so Jane this is one last push for you! 

Candlelighters are an incredible charity that supports children suffering from cancer. They focus on adding life to a life and death situation, providing a shining light and positivity to children battling, and providing the support badly needed to the families affected.

Losing a mother to this fight, that’s one thing, but your own child is a different story. This charity desperately needs support from donations. Anything you give will go straight to them and make a huge difference in a child, and their families, lives. 

If you want to find out more about them, use this; https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/what-we-do/our-values/ 

What? 

Ok so down to the events. Each month I will be taking on a different task. Each month I will be revealing that months task. Each month I will be doing something I truly and honestly do not want to do in the slightest. Each month I will be asking for your hard earned money for charity. Simple!

So here it is;

• April - 10k a day (DONE!)
• May - Cycle Coast to Coast in 24 Hours (DONE!)
• June - Swim Lake Windermere (DONE!)
• July - The Marathon in the Mountains (DONE!)
• August - Row the Channel, Twice (DONE!)
• September - Lands End to John O'Groats (DONE!)
• October - National Three Peaks (DONE!)
• November - Vegan For A Month DONE!)
• December - Volunteering (DONE!)
• January - Run The Dalesway (DONE!)
• February - Stairway to Everest (DONE!)
• March - Cycle the Leeds Liverpool Canal (DONE!)

Knowing what is to come behind those stars is daunting.  Knowing that everything I do will be to help Candlelighters, well that makes it all worthwhile.

One last thing. If you’ve lost someone dear to you, feel free to get in touch. I’d love to hear all about them and what made them so wonderful to you.

Thank you for anything and everything you give, I love you dearly for your support.

Jonathan (or as my mum called me, Joe) x