Couple tackle walking challenge in memory of daughter

On Saturday 3 September, Simon and Jo Geere and a group of their friends will be taking on the South Coast Challenge to raise funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK’s leading charity for children and young people with cancer, in memory of their daughter Lola.

Just over a year ago, in August 2021, Simon and Jo’s daughter Lola sadly died after being diagnosed with cancer. The family had been supported by Young Lives vs Cancer since receiving Lola’s diagnosis and all throughout her treatment.  This September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the couple are hoping to raise awareness as well as funds to help more young people with cancer, like Lola, in her memory.

Dad Simon will be walking 50km, from Eastbourne to Brighton, with three of his friends and Mum Jo will be walking 25km with a group of her friends to complete the challenge. They have found that training by going out walking and talking about Lola and how they are feeling with their friends has helped to process their grief. The two groups have already raised over £15,000 for the charity

Jo says:  “Young Lives vs Cancer supported us from Lola’s diagnosis and throughout her treatment. They provided us with a social worker who helped answer my many questions. They also put Lola in touch with other charities who organised virtual makeup masterclasses and she even got to design her own unique pair of converse shoes. (They have cherry blossom painted on them!) They helped put a smile on Lola’s face when she was going through the toughest of times.

“The training and fundraising has really helped us this past year and given us something to focus on following Lola’s death. Our friends have been our absolute rocks throughout and have really kept us going. Walking with them has allowed us to talk and has really helped us process our grief.

“As a group we are all used to walking together with our dogs however, this is usually only 5km at a plodding pace with a coffee stop along the way! To walk 25km is definitely going to be challenging but knowing that we are raising money for such a worthwhile cause and thinking how proud Lola would be of us all will keep us going.”

Rose Bailey, Fundraising Engagement Manager for Sussex at Young Lives vs Cancer, said:

“We’re so grateful to Jo, Simon and their friends for taking on this challenge to raise funds Young Lives vs Cancer in memory of Lola, and we wish them the best of luck for Saturday.

“We know that 12 more children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every day and it is only thanks to the support from people like Jo and Simon that we can continue to be there for families, ensuring they don’t have to face cancer alone.”

To find out more and support Jo and Simon’s fundraising please visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/Simon-Geere or justgiving.com/fundraising/Jo-Geere1