Owens October Challenge 2026

This October, I, along with an amazing group of #TeamJenko legends, will once again be taking on Owen's October Challenge. Throughout the month, we will be running, walking or wheeling between 5 and 10km every single day, from 1st to 31st October.

Owen's Story

My younger brother, Owen, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2022.

After nearly 18 rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of daily radiotherapy, he was given the all-clear in January 2023. He spent the following year embracing life and making the most of every moment.

Sadly, in January 2024, we learned that Owen's cancer had returned.

Over the following months, Owen underwent further chemotherapy treatments, participated in a clinical trial in Newcastle, and received high-dose treatment alongside radiotherapy in an effort to prolong his life. Despite these treatments, the cancer continued to progress.

Eventually, we were told there were no further treatment options available. Owen spent his final months making memories with the people he loved, showing extraordinary courage, strength and determination despite the unimaginable challenges he faced.

On 23 November 2025 at 16:38, Owen passed away peacefully at home, with our family holding him, surrounded entirely with peace, prayer, his favourite music, and so much love.

However, Owen's death is only one part of his story.

His legacy lives on through everyone who knew him and through the lives he continues to touch. Owen possessed a strength unlike any other. He faced every challenge with courage, dignity and an infectious smile. Although cancer became part of his life, it never defined him. Instead, he chose to live every day to the fullest and showed us all what it truly means to make the most of the time we have.

There is no one I know who loved life more than Owen.

What We're Doing

We are raising money for PACT (Parents Association of Children with Tumours), a charity that supported my brother Owen and our family in ways we can never fully repay.

PACT provides practical, emotional and financial support to families facing childhood cancer. They offer treats, lunches and care packages for children and parents in hospital, organise days out, parties and family breaks, and even provide accommodation in Sheffield for families travelling for treatment. Most importantly, they provide comfort, kindness and support when families need it most.

Simply put, we could not have navigated this journey without them.

The challenge first began a few years ago when some of Owens family Uncle Ged, Auntie Lizzie and Auntie Anna decided to raise money for Mary's Meals and PACT by completing a daily distance challenge throughout October.

In 2024, we brought the challenge back on a whole new level. I (Owen's sister) was pulled in at the last minute and, from there, it snowballed. More and more people signed up until we had hundreds of people taking part every day, each covering a minimum of 155km across the month of November and ended up raising an incredible £28’000 for PACT. We continued the challenge in 2025, brining it forward a month, this is where ‘Owen’s October Challenge’ was born. Yet again, more people got involved and at the end of the month we were left with an astounding £76’000 raise to go directly to PACT.

This year, in Owens name, we're determined to go even bigger and are taking on our biggest challenge yet of raising £100’000.

No contribution is too small, and every pound raised will help PACT continue providing vital support to families facing childhood cancer.

Thank you for taking the time to read Owen's story and consider supporting our challenge.

Let's do it again for Owen, for PACT, and for every family facing childhood cancer.

God Bless,

Ciara and #TeamJenko