Jake was my best friend, for about as long as I can remember.

In truth, Jake was probably a lot of other people's best friend as well as mine, on account of the fact that he was amazing.

Amazing at being a singer.

Amazing at being a skateboarder.

And, more generally and importantly, truly amazing at being a person.

For anyone that doesn't know Jake, this video, set to his own music, will do a pretty good job of showing you what a great guy he was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmP6auloSuo 

Tragically, whilst on holiday with his brother in December last year, Jake suffered a seizure which left him in a coma. Jake underwent emergency surgery to remove a large brain tumour which was discovered on his left frontal lobe. Sadly, Jake never regained consciousness and lost his fight on 24th December 2012, aged 24.

Jake's tumour had gone undiagnosed in the UK, and his loss was a devastating shock to his family and friends. Jake's family set up The Jake McCarthy foundation in order to raise awareness of the early signs of brain tumours and promote early diagnosis to prevent other families from experiencing such a tragic loss.

So this summer his family and friends are riding across Ireland - to remember Jake, but also to raise money to help ensure that so many brain tumours don't keep going undiagnosed and taking people as special as Jake away from the world.

Every little bit of help will make a difference.

Thank you.

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