Jemma Anthony rode in the London to Brighton Cycle ride on Sunday 11th September along with her dad brother and uncle in memory of her cousin Ethan Jones.
“On the 23rd December 2010 our family’s life changed forever when, our nephew and cousin, Ethan (picture right) passed away unexpectedly, at the age of 6 from an undiagnosed heart condition. My auntie Sandra, Nick and Ethan’s sister Hope have had friends run the London Marathon, complete the Three Peaks Challenge and take part in a classic car race, all in memory of our lovely Ethan; along the way raising money for CRY, a charity our family as a whole have adopted.
After seeing so many people doing these amazing things for Ethan, I decided that I would like to follow in their footsteps and raise some money in memory of my cousin. I thought long and hard about what I would want to do so when I came across the London to Brighton cycle ride, through the Do It for Charity website; I knew that was what I wanted to do. Once it was confirmed, my dad and I started to train, cycling to Richmond Park at the weekend to get ready for the big day. We set up a website where people could donate money, and when people heard why we were doing the event, they were more than happy to give very generously for such a good cause. With all the money people had donated, we were even more determined once the big day came to finish it and do everyone proud.
My dad, brother and I got up very early on Sunday 11th September and made our way to the starting point were we meet my Uncle Dave who was also participating with us. When we got there we were also met by Sandra, Nick and Hope who had come to see us off. The event as a whole was very challenging for the four of us and there were many ups and downs during the event (and I am not just talking about emotions) but it was the best feeling in the world when we got to the end and we knew that we had done everyone including Ethan proud.
Losing someone so close to us devastated our family, it was something that we could have never seen coming in a million years. The fact that we have been able to do even something small to help contribute to others who were either in the same positions as us, or could help to save another persons life meant the world to us. I am so happy that I took the opportunity to do the London to Brighton, it is a massive achievement and on top of that we are helping to support a great charity that helps so many young people in very difficult situations.”
Jemma Anthony (Aged 16)
