April 13th 2008 will remain an unforgettable day for me. I am relieved and pleased to have finished the 26.2 miles. We have raised over £4000 for Leukaemia CARE. Thank you to all those that sponsored & supported Fiona and myself. I'm sure Jon would have been proud.
As far as the marathon goes we were lucky to start with blue skies. By the time I got to Tower Bridge it was raining very hard which was welcome relief for about 5 minutes. But the crowds were amazing and cheered you on. There was plenty to keep you smiling - the guy standing next to me at the start stripped off to his Green Borat Lycra Mankini, a Priest was casting holy water over the runners as they passed and the YMCA singalong was totally unexpected. I really enjoyed it (well the first 15 miles to be honest) and finished in under 4 hours just behind Gordon Ramsay and ahead of Ronan Keating and Ben Fogle! Would I run it again?? ermmm....
Thanks again for all your support and thank you to Eleanor who has to put up with me and my training for the last 16 weeks.
Phil
About this Site
This site is dedicated to the memory of Jon Bell who was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia in 2003. Jon said that when he got better he wanted to give something back for the care and treatment he had received. Fiona & I would like to do this on Jon's behalf by raising funds for Leukaemia CARE & I shall be running the London Marathon on April 13th.
Below you'll find memories of Jon from family, friends and colleagues. You can sponsor us on the Justgiving website by pressing the button below.
Below you'll find memories of Jon from family, friends and colleagues. You can sponsor us on the Justgiving website by pressing the button below.
Jon's Anniversary
On March 19th, it will be the anniversary of Jon's death and no doubt a time for reflection for Fiona, all of Jon's family and of course his friends. I think they can all be very proud of Jon as a person who was held in high regard and with affection by so many.
The fund raising has been about fulfilling Jon's desire to give something back for the care and treatment he received. Fiona & I are really pleased with the number of people who have sponsored us and with the amount raised so far - a testament to Jon
Fiona and her friend Alison have printed leaflets and have been busy distributing those in the houses nearby. Alison is leaving her job at the University and she has asked her friends and colleagues to sponsor us. The butchers where Jon worked has raised over £150. Jon's colleagues and friends at Moores have all been extremely generous. Leukaemia CARE have been impressed with the total raised and will be featuring this in their April magazine. We hope to reach our target of £4,000.
Phil
The fund raising has been about fulfilling Jon's desire to give something back for the care and treatment he received. Fiona & I are really pleased with the number of people who have sponsored us and with the amount raised so far - a testament to Jon
Fiona and her friend Alison have printed leaflets and have been busy distributing those in the houses nearby. Alison is leaving her job at the University and she has asked her friends and colleagues to sponsor us. The butchers where Jon worked has raised over £150. Jon's colleagues and friends at Moores have all been extremely generous. Leukaemia CARE have been impressed with the total raised and will be featuring this in their April magazine. We hope to reach our target of £4,000.
Phil
Jon, Fiona, Alex & Felicity (Scotland 2006)
You can add some of your memories of Jon by clicking the comments section below. You can also send any posts, photos, etc to either Fiona fiona.bell3@btopenworld.com or Phil phil.atwell@ntlworld.com and these can be published on this site.Dave Pearce
Dave Pearce has known Jon and Fiona for 13 yrs and is a neighbour to Jon's Mum & Dad.....
My story concerns a day that Jon visited me at home during the depths of his illness. I was quite 'down' having been made redundant from my management job at the electronics factory. I asked Jon "how are you then?" he replied "oh I'M OK! How are YOU?". Jon's concern for me really put everything in perspective - here was I worried about losing a useless job, whilst Jonny was battling with his life and the potential loss of everything. I never worried about being made redundant again! God bless you Jon. I miss you so much!
My story concerns a day that Jon visited me at home during the depths of his illness. I was quite 'down' having been made redundant from my management job at the electronics factory. I asked Jon "how are you then?" he replied "oh I'M OK! How are YOU?". Jon's concern for me really put everything in perspective - here was I worried about losing a useless job, whilst Jonny was battling with his life and the potential loss of everything. I never worried about being made redundant again! God bless you Jon. I miss you so much!
Ben Mor Coigach
The following poem is about one of Jon’s favourite places in Scotland, called Ardmair. Ardmair comprises just a few houses set around a costal bay a couple of miles north of Ullapool. Ardmair enjoys uninterrupted views out towards the Western Isles of Lewis and Harris and the drama of the scene is completed with the backdrop of a dominant munroe, Ben Mor Coigach, whose name is the title of this poem. BEN MOR COIGACH
There is a bay on the North West coast of Scotland,
Where every evening the sun comes to die.
And in dying sets alight the shimmering sea,
And silhouettes the distant islands with a backdrop of fire.
A dark mountain looms beside,
Swathed in a cloak of purple heather, rending the clouds.
So massive, and ancient, it evaporates the dream of one’s own significance,
And steals away the ticking breath of time.
Yet time is so precious there, in a silence sweet enough to taste.
Seconds are as diamonds.
And it tears the sole as night draws on,
and the light begins to fade.
But I have sat there gazing,
But I have sat there gazing,
my ears filled with silence.The light slowly fading,
And thought only of the wonder of you.
Jon P Bell July 1997.
That poem was written by Jon, for Fi, to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Poetry was clearly one of Jon’s many hidden talents. I think it sums up everything he loved about Scotland. The poem, one of a good number that Jon has written, understandably means a huge amount to Fi. They had their first holiday together in 1993 at Ardmair and returned in 1997 for that first wedding anniversary.
Reading Jon's poem at his service meant a great deal to Adele and me, having shared one of our many happy holidays with them both at Ardmair in the year 2000. It was Jon in fact that introduced me to Scotland, I’m sure having inherited his love of the place from Pat and Alan through his and Andrew’s many enjoyable childhood holidays there.
Mark Butler
From Iain
Some memories of Jon by his good friend Iain...
"We met aged 11 and became good friends from then on. Most of our teens was spent around Dringhouses, the area he grew up in. We hung around the knavesmire, in the local woods or in his bedroom playing records and watching tv shows such as The A-Team, Miami Vice and Magnum P.I."
"Jon’s love of the outdoors and nature has never ceased. With his wife Fiona and their children Alex and Felicity they have holidayed and day-tripped greatly in the country. Fiona has often joked about when planning a walk they would have to at least double the guide books recommended time due to Jon’s constant stopping to investigate the local fauna, or catch a fleeting glimpse of a buzzard. Jon was brought up with a love of walking and the natural world by his parents Pat and Alan and Fiona tells me how Alex, Jon and Fi’s son, has developed a love for nature, obviously enthused by his father and in keeping with the family tradition."
".....just before Jon’s bone marrow transplant, he and I went for a walk in the country. The time was near to the birthday of Jon and Fiona’s first child Eleanor who had sadly passed away. In walking, Eleanor’s name came up in conversation and my immediate reaction was to ask Jon if he was ok talking about her. He told me he was always happy to talk about her as it keeps her memory alive and around him. I think we should have Jon’s attitude and think the same for him. Sometimes it might make us sad, a lot of times it will make us smile, but to keep thinking of Jon will keep his memory alive and always around us."
"We met aged 11 and became good friends from then on. Most of our teens was spent around Dringhouses, the area he grew up in. We hung around the knavesmire, in the local woods or in his bedroom playing records and watching tv shows such as The A-Team, Miami Vice and Magnum P.I."
"Jon’s love of the outdoors and nature has never ceased. With his wife Fiona and their children Alex and Felicity they have holidayed and day-tripped greatly in the country. Fiona has often joked about when planning a walk they would have to at least double the guide books recommended time due to Jon’s constant stopping to investigate the local fauna, or catch a fleeting glimpse of a buzzard. Jon was brought up with a love of walking and the natural world by his parents Pat and Alan and Fiona tells me how Alex, Jon and Fi’s son, has developed a love for nature, obviously enthused by his father and in keeping with the family tradition."
".....just before Jon’s bone marrow transplant, he and I went for a walk in the country. The time was near to the birthday of Jon and Fiona’s first child Eleanor who had sadly passed away. In walking, Eleanor’s name came up in conversation and my immediate reaction was to ask Jon if he was ok talking about her. He told me he was always happy to talk about her as it keeps her memory alive and around him. I think we should have Jon’s attitude and think the same for him. Sometimes it might make us sad, a lot of times it will make us smile, but to keep thinking of Jon will keep his memory alive and always around us."
Jon & Moores
Jon was someone who always had good friends, a supportive family & loyal colleagues. It was something in his nature. Peter Wilson, the CEO of Moores, said of Jon in a letter to Fiona,
".....I have known Jon since he started with the company in 1994 and he was well liked and well respected by everyone who came into contact with him."
I was lucky to have worked with Jon for 10 years and shared an office with him for six of those. You can't fail to get to know someone pretty well after that time. I liked and admired Jon for many reasons but perhaps most of all for his determination and perseverance. He liked to make sure things were right. In an article published in MooreSpeak (the company newsletter), Peter wrote:
"..throughout the last few years, Jon faced this illness with fortitude, courage, good humour and a tremendous strength of character. Jon was hard working, his work was always to a very high standard and he made sure that everyone he dealt with felt comfortable and valued. He was one of the most well liked and respected people within the company. His positive attitude was a lesson to us all and he will be sadly missed...."
Jon's character & postive attitude was always evident. I used to go cycling with Jon (always finding it difficult to keep up!) and during his last few weeks he was making plans with me to ride the red mountain bike route in Dalby forest.
In his letter to Fiona, Peter went on to say to Fiona,
"Throughout the battle that he had fought over the last years, his courage, determination, dignity and positive attitude have been a shining example to everyone and I know that he could not have fought this battle withbout your unstinting support and that of your family. Jon will be sadly missed and long remembered by us all"
".....I have known Jon since he started with the company in 1994 and he was well liked and well respected by everyone who came into contact with him."
I was lucky to have worked with Jon for 10 years and shared an office with him for six of those. You can't fail to get to know someone pretty well after that time. I liked and admired Jon for many reasons but perhaps most of all for his determination and perseverance. He liked to make sure things were right. In an article published in MooreSpeak (the company newsletter), Peter wrote:
"..throughout the last few years, Jon faced this illness with fortitude, courage, good humour and a tremendous strength of character. Jon was hard working, his work was always to a very high standard and he made sure that everyone he dealt with felt comfortable and valued. He was one of the most well liked and respected people within the company. His positive attitude was a lesson to us all and he will be sadly missed...."
Jon's character & postive attitude was always evident. I used to go cycling with Jon (always finding it difficult to keep up!) and during his last few weeks he was making plans with me to ride the red mountain bike route in Dalby forest.
In his letter to Fiona, Peter went on to say to Fiona,
"Throughout the battle that he had fought over the last years, his courage, determination, dignity and positive attitude have been a shining example to everyone and I know that he could not have fought this battle withbout your unstinting support and that of your family. Jon will be sadly missed and long remembered by us all"
24th February Update
A big thanks to everyone who has sponsored us so far. To date we have £2427.20. The 20p comes from a friend who thought it apt to sponsor me £1 for every mile, i.e. £26.20. Thanks Dave. The total does not include some of the sponsorship that people are collecting on our behalf.
Pat, Jon's Mum, has put posters up in the local Butchers where Jon first started work and has collected over £120 so far. The reception staff at Fiona's work are doing really well with around £100. Around £800 has been donated by Jon's colleagues at Moores. Fiona's friends and colleagues have all been very generous. My own Mum is getting sponsorship from work colleagues and extended family over in Cheshire. We have been getting sponsorship from people who did not know Jon but whose lives have been affected by cancer and people who have run marathons or have done completed endurance events.
We're confident we'll reach our initial target of £3,000. Fi & I plan to see if we can get the local press to publicise the story in the next week or two and hopefully raise even more funds for Luekaemia CARE.
Pat, Jon's Mum, has put posters up in the local Butchers where Jon first started work and has collected over £120 so far. The reception staff at Fiona's work are doing really well with around £100. Around £800 has been donated by Jon's colleagues at Moores. Fiona's friends and colleagues have all been very generous. My own Mum is getting sponsorship from work colleagues and extended family over in Cheshire. We have been getting sponsorship from people who did not know Jon but whose lives have been affected by cancer and people who have run marathons or have done completed endurance events.
We're confident we'll reach our initial target of £3,000. Fi & I plan to see if we can get the local press to publicise the story in the next week or two and hopefully raise even more funds for Luekaemia CARE.
London Marathon & Leukaemia CARE
Some facts about the London Marathon & Leukaemia CARE:
- Each year the London Marathon raises LC £250,000, without it they could not survive.
- A Golden Bond Entry costs LC £350.
- This year there are 123 Golden Bond Runners & 24 people who have chosen to run for LC.
- 99 runners are male, 48 female
- 55 runners live in London and 48 are from the Midlands
- 98% of people who start the London Marathon then go on to finish.
- Each year the London Marathon raises LC £250,000, without it they could not survive.
- A Golden Bond Entry costs LC £350.
- This year there are 123 Golden Bond Runners & 24 people who have chosen to run for LC.
- 99 runners are male, 48 female
- 55 runners live in London and 48 are from the Midlands
- 98% of people who start the London Marathon then go on to finish.
Please Sponsor us here!
Thank you ever so much to everyone who has sponsored us so far. As of 27th Jan the fund stands at £841.20. Our target is £3000. Today we have 11 weeks before for London Marathon itself. The funds raised will go to a very worthy cause!
Sponsor forms will be going around shortly however it easier if you can sponsor us on line by clicking the 'Sponsor Me' icon above!
Your donations are truly appreciated. Thanks. Phil & Fiona.
Leukaemia CARE
Leukaemia CARE is a national charity that provides vital care and support to all those whose lives are affected by leukaemia, lymphoma and the allied blood disorders. This work extends to the welfare of families and carers as well as that of patients themselves. One of its greatest strengths is that it remains a family-focused charity and offers a depth of understanding and support based firmly on knowledge and experience.
My Running History
I began to take running more seriously in July '07 when I started training for the Wetherby 10K (09/09). I finished in just under 44 mins and enjoyed the experience. I decided to continue and entered a couple of 10 mile races.
09.09.07 Wetherby 10k (43 mins 58 secs)
30.09.07 Horsforth 10K (42 mins 45 secs)
14.10.07 Kirkby Overblow 10K Trail (49mins 58 secs)
04.11.07 Guy Fawkes 10 Miles (1hr 26mins)
02.12.07 Thirsk 10 Miles (1hr 14mins)
09.09.07 Wetherby 10k (43 mins 58 secs)
30.09.07 Horsforth 10K (42 mins 45 secs)
14.10.07 Kirkby Overblow 10K Trail (49mins 58 secs)
04.11.07 Guy Fawkes 10 Miles (1hr 26mins)
02.12.07 Thirsk 10 Miles (1hr 14mins)
My Preparation
26.2 Miles seems a tall order. I've never ran a marathon before!
Confirmation came from Leukaemia CARE on Friday 21st December. They had accepted my application for a 'Golden Bond Entry'. The London Marathon is on April 13th 2008. With just 16 weeks of training time, I found a training programme on the Runners World website that would hopefully get me in shape.
You can follow my training programme week by week at the bottom of the page and keep a check on my progress so far.
Confirmation came from Leukaemia CARE on Friday 21st December. They had accepted my application for a 'Golden Bond Entry'. The London Marathon is on April 13th 2008. With just 16 weeks of training time, I found a training programme on the Runners World website that would hopefully get me in shape.
You can follow my training programme week by week at the bottom of the page and keep a check on my progress so far.
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