On the 28th June, I’ll be taking on the challenge of a lifetime: skydiving from 10,000 feet in memory of Josh Hillier; my wife’s stepbrother and a great friend who we lost far too soon at the age of 32 due to leukaemia.

There aren't many people in the world that I would be willing to do this for but Josh is one of those. Despite his passion for Chelsea and our annual rivalry when West Ham would inevitably be defeated, he was truly one of a kind and leaves a profound void in our family's lives.

Josh faced his illness with remarkable courage, hope, humour, and incredible strength. He was an amazing person, and we all miss him every day.

I’m raising funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, an organisation doing vital work to fund research, support families, and bring us closer to a world where leukaemia is no longer a life-threatening diagnosis. Josh received the most incredible care at the Royal Marsden Hospital- please see his story below.

Thank you very much for supporting a great cause that is close to mine and my family's hearts.

💙🪂

Josh's Story:

Josh was diagnosed with acute Leukaemia in December 2020 and spent the next two and a half years battling this disease. Josh fought with courage, dignity, resilience, integrity and always with a sense of humour!

Josh was and is loved by so very many people, he is an amazing inspiration for many and despite his own illness, he never moaned, complained or whinged, instead he spent his many long stays in hospital helping others and supporting the mental health of people he knew going through similar adversity.

Due to the length of time that was spent both as an inpatient and outpatient, the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton became like a second home to Josh, and the fabulous team treating Josh were like family. Josh could never find enough good words to say about each and every one of them and he was very clear that he would always raise money for this great place.

We lost Josh in June 2023, aged 32, but his legacy will forever live on and he will continue to make a difference, hopefully for many years to come.