Hello

I'd simply like to let you all know about a fantastic and fun fitness challenge that has just been launched in memory of Jack Ryan.

Jack's family, his girlfriend Liz, and his friends are encouraging people to work out in some way in his honour over the weekend of 20th & 21st March. The hashtag for anyone using social media is #MoveForJack.

The plan is to raise some money for two charities that are deeply significant to Jack and his family. These are the Aston Villa Foundation (Jack was a devoted Villa fan) and the London Ambulance Service. Many paramedics attended Battersea Bridge on the night of the  tragic accident on 13th January.

This is the link to the Virgin Money Giving fundraising page. I hope as many people as possible can get involved. Jack loved keeping fit, so getting out and doing something active is a perfect way to remember him.

I am aiming to take part. I'm not sure what I will do yet, but it will probably be something similar to Eddie Izzard's 78 marathons, or I may swim the length of Thames. Failing either of those easy challenges, I might do a sponsored Lager Guzzle, which I sense Jack would applaud.

Below is part of the text written by the organisers on the website. I hope a great swathe of you will take part. Good luck for it all. (RM. 4/3/20)

'Sadly we lost a very special colleague and friend - Jack Ryan, earlier this year.

Jack would have been celebrating his 30th birthday on the 18 March. Jack was a big fitness fan from running and cycling to football. So as a fitting tribute, we are dedicating the weekend of the 20 & 21 March to ‘Move’ in his memory.

How does it work?

We want as many people as possible to dust off their shoes, trainers, wheels and get out and walk, skip, run, spin, zumba, cycle or any other activity of choice on the 20 and/or 21 March and help us collectively ‘Move’ 1,000km over the weekend.

You might want to set yourself a challenge of how far you can move, whether it’s 1km or 10km, every kilometre counts. Or perhaps you want to see how quickly you can complete a distance. Whatever you choose, do it for Jack.'

Read more here...