WHY WE HAVE CHOSEN JACKTHELAD

We have chosen to raise money for JackTheLad Foundation because this charity is not just a charity to us anymore — they became part of our family’s journey when we needed help the most.

When Joshua Kershaw died in Thailand, our family was suddenly faced with something we never could have imagined.

We had lost Josh.

He was only 21 years old.

And on top of the heartbreak of losing him, we had to face the devastating reality of trying to bring him home from Thailand.

We didn’t know how we were going to do it.

at a time when we were already completely broken, the thought that we might not even be able to bring Josh home to his family was unbearable.

JackTheLad stepped in and helped us.

They provided financial assistance towards bringing Josh home, they arranged everything for us and because of their help, we were able to bring Josh back home to us.

Without JackTheLad, we genuinely don’t know how we would have managed to get Josh home.

No family should ever have to face the loss of their child, brother, nephew, grandson or loved one abroad and then have to worry about whether they can afford to bring them home.

That is exactly why JackTheLad exists.

JackTheLad was created by the Howe family after they tragically lost their son and brother, Jack Howe, who died in an accident in Zante in 2019. The family turned their own heartbreak into a charity dedicated to helping other young people and their families. (JackTheLad)

They campaign for Safer Holidays For Young Brits, raising awareness of the risks young people can face while travelling abroad.

But when the worst happens, they are also there for families.

Their Repatriation Grant helps families with the costs of bringing a young person home after they have died overseas when insurance doesn’t cover the cost or there isn’t enough insurance available. (JackTheLad)

They were there for us when we needed them.

Now we want to be there for them.

🪂 SO WE’RE JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE FOR HIM

On 18th July 2027, what would have been Josh’s 23rd birthday, we are going to do something completely out of our comfort zones.

WE ARE GOING SKYDIVING.

We will be jumping out of a plane on Josh’s birthday, carrying his name and his memory with us every single step of the way.

It will be scary.

It will be emotional.

And it will probably be one of the hardest things we’ve ever done.

But every second of that jump will be for Josh.

We can’t change what happened.

We can’t bring Josh back.

But we can make sure that his name continues to mean something.

We can take the love we have for him and turn it into something that helps other families.

And we can give back to the charity that helped our family when we needed it most.

🕊️ FOR JOSHUA

Joshua Kershaw was just 21 years old when he died in Thailand.

Josh went missing on 12th January 2026.

For days, our family didn’t know where he was or what had happened to him.

Then, on 21st January 2026, we received the devastating news that Josh had died.

Nothing can prepare you for being told that someone you love is never coming home.

Josh should still be here.

He should have been turning 22 this year.

He should have had years and years ahead of him — birthdays, holidays, memories, laughter and a future that was taken away far too soon.

His death is currently the subject of a murder/manslaughter investigation in Thailand, with serious concerns surrounding the circumstances of his death.

There are still so many unanswered questions, but one thing we know for certain is that Josh should be here.

And we will never stop loving him.

❤️ HELP US GIVE BACK

Every penny raised from this fundraiser will go to JackTheLad Foundation.

We aren’t raising this money for ourselves.

We are raising it because JackTheLad helped us bring Josh home.

We want to help make sure that when another family is faced with the unimaginable loss of a young person abroad, they don’t have to wonder how they are going to get their loved one home.

We want JackTheLad to be able to continue helping families just like ours.

So please, if you can donate, no matter how big or small, we would be incredibly grateful.

£1. £5. £10. £20. Whatever you can spare.

And if you can’t donate, please share our fundraiser.

A share could reach someone who can donate, or someone who simply wants to help us honour Josh.

Every single donation and every single share means more to us than we can put into words.

🕊️ FOR JOSH.

For the boy who should still be here.

For the family who will never be the same.

For the charity that helped bring him home.

And for every family who may need JackTheLad one day.

On 18th July 2027, we will jump from that plane with Josh in our hearts.

And when we look down from the sky, we will know exactly why we’re doing it.

For you, Josh. Always. ❤️🕊️

PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR TARGET ❤️

Donate if you can. Share if you can’t.

Every penny goes to JackTheLad Foundation.

#ForJoshua #JoshuaKershaw #Forever21 #SkydiveForJosh #JackTheLad #18July2027 #InMemoryOfJosh #SaferHolidaysForYoungBrits #BringThemHome #ForeverInOurHearts