We are raising money together for Guts UK. For those who don’t already know me, my name is Samantha and along with my sister Jemma and brother Michael, suddenly and without warning lost our Mum, Jill James, to a digestive disease called pancreatitis.

This year, our Mum, Jill, and our Dad, Gerry, would have celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. They would have celebrated over 53 years of love together. Although Mum is no longer with us, we must make this milestone count. Family, friends and loved ones will be joining us to take on their own version of Jill’s Golden 50th Challenge.

I will be covering 50 miles, walking (and maybe even running some of it!) from the 3rd March 2021 up to their anniversary on 3rd April 2021.

Our parents were wed at St Etheldreda’s Church, Old Hatfield in Hertfordshire. Mum always said it was a perfect day apart from the fact my poor Dad (Gerry) being refused entry to the Church by the security and police at the perimeter as the then Leader of the Opposition, Harold Wilson, along with his wife Mary and other Cabinet Ministers were in attendance. He had to convince them that he was the groom, and told them that if they didn’t let him in, there wouldn’t be a wedding! All after battling to get through the crowding paparazzi!

I hadn’t seen my Mum since February 2020 due to lockdown, the next time I saw her I was only able hold her hand whilst wearing plastic gloves. Mum went into hospital with a debilitating stomach ache and within 2 days she was hooked up to life-support and placed in an induced-coma to take the pressure off her vital organs. We only saw her 3 times (in full PPE), when they thought it was touch-and-go. Pancreatitis ripped through her body. Thankfully, for her final moments, she was surrounded by her family, with plenty of music, cuddles and kisses.

There is currently no cure, and very little understanding about this devastating disease. We know this first hand, the doctors did all they could to support her, but they had no way to stop this disease from ravaging her body.

How can you help?

As it would’ve been Jill & Gerry’s 50th Wedding Anniversary this year, we’re asking you to do 50 of something! Whether you walk, skip, jump, cycle or run 50 miles. You may sing for 50 minutes, dance for 50 minutes. Or how about baking 50 cupcakes to sell to your neighbours? We want to help Guts UK as much as we can, so even if you cannot join the challenge, please give generously! Whatever you do, celebrate Jill’s life with us by ensuring no other family loses their loved one to pancreatitis. 3rd March – 3rd April.

When you donate to Guts UK, you can turn a scientists’ determination into a life-saving discovery. When acute pancreatitis is severe 1 in 4 will "die"

Please help us get to grips with guts