Jamie and Charlie’s story
‘We know how important the work of Blythe House is, and we wanted to do something to support it, so it’s there for other families like mine.’
Darren, left, with colleagues at The Insuranceman fundraising for Blythe House in 2019
Darren, left, with Jamie and Charlie on their football team
Best friends for more than 25 years, Jamie and Charlie wanted to do something truly special in memory of Jamie’s dad, Darren – to say thank you to Blythe House Hospice for the care and support the family received.
In August 2025, the pair took on an incredible challenge: running 85km (almost 53 miles) from Old Trafford in Manchester to Bramhall Lane in Sheffield. Along the way, they stopped at some of Darren’s favourite places, including Furness Vale Football Club, The Insuranceman, and Rems in Chapel-en-le-Frith. Their efforts raised an amazing £3,078 for hospice care.
Darren was a well-known figure in the local community. He was passionate about grassroots football, managing teams in Chapel-en-le-Frith and Furness Vale, and he also played the cornet in several brass bands.
As part-owner of The Insuranceman in Chapel alongside his brother-in-law, every Christmas, the team would play their instruments around local pubs and restaurants, raising money for Blythe House. Over the years, their efforts brought in more than £7,500 to support hospice services.
In January 2023, Darren went to his GP after feeling unwell and experiencing extreme fatigue. Following tests and a colonoscopy at hospital, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Sadly, the cancer was very aggressive, and there was little that doctors could do. Darren wanted to return home to Chinley to spend the time he had left with his loved ones.
That’s when Blythe House stepped in. The hospice’s physiotherapist and occupational therapist supported Darren in managing his symptoms and provided specialist equipment to help make life more comfortable. The Hospice at Home team also offered respite care, allowing his wife, Johanne, to take a break from her caring role and simply be his wife again. Darren died peacefully in March 2023.
Jamie said: ‘We know how important the work of Blythe House is, and we wanted to do something to support it, so it’s there for other families like mine. Mum couldn’t have managed without their help – she was able to be someone other than my dad’s main carer; she could just be his wife. We can never thank Blythe House enough for what they did for us. The work they do is so important in our local community, and this was the least we could do to give something back.’
Charlie said: ‘I have been friends with Jamie since I was six or seven years old, and so I’ve known them for over 25 years. When Darren died, we wanted to plan something to honour his memory but also say thank you to Blythe House for supporting him. The challenge was both mentally and physically tough. We’ve done marathons and an ultra-marathon before together, but this was more than we’ve ever done, and it was relentless.
‘The first bit from Manchester to Stockport wasn’t too bad, but once we hit the hills and inclines of the High Peak, we both found it very difficult. But we did it all with Darren in our minds and he kept us going. It was so good to have such incredible support along the way – some people took on five or ten kilometres of the route with us; others cheered us on at the places we stopped off. When we reached Insuranceman, there were around 80 people waiting and cheering outside, and it was really amazing to see that.’
Charlie and Jamie with Blythe Bear and a friend during their epic summer challenge
