A MAN from Rhyl ran 10 miles a day for 10 successive days in aid of a charity started by a girl from Rhyl who died of cancer.
Billy Patterson, 20, completed the challenge on Wednesday evening (July 29), and in doing wso raised funds for Jazzy’s Gestures, a charity helping children with cancer and their families.
Jazzy’s Gestures was started by Jasmine Lee, who died aged 10 in June after being diagnosed with sarcoma of the liver in late 2023.
About 40 people ran the last three miles with billy at Marine Lake on Wednesday, including Jasmine’s cousin, Junior, and his football team-mates, as well as members of Mind Fight CIC, a fitness and mental wellbeing support group in Rhyl.
Wearing a Jazzy’s Gestures t-shirt, with Jasmine’s picture on the back, Billy said he wanted to do something to support a “wonderful local charity,” and thanked “all these lovely people supporting me and completing the run”.
He added: “I just wanted to raise money for another wonderful local charity.
“It’s gone really successfully, and I couldn’t thank anyone more for supporting me and coming down to complete the final miles with me.”
Jasmine’s cousin and Junior’s sister, Missy, also sold sweets at the event, with the proceeds going to Jazzy’s Gestures.
Junior is also taking on his own fundraising challenge, running around Marine Lake for 10 straight days to raise funds for Hope House & Ty Gobaith, the children’s hospice where Jasmine spent her last days.
Donations can be pledged by visiting www.justgiving.com/page/junior-lee-9.
Jasmine underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy, as well as a liver resection, following her diagnosis.
Jazzy’s Gestures has raised more than £45,000 since Jasmine started the charity.
More than £15,000 was raised at an event at Prestatyn Town Football Club in Jasmine’s memory on July 26.
In a tribute to Jasmine, her mother Danielle said: “I want everyone to remember her for her sassy ways, and for everything she did for other children with cancer while she was fighting cancer herself.
“She still made us all laugh leading up to her last breath, still telling the nurses to shush and still showing her personality.
“Her charity will be her legacy. We 100 per cent plan on keeping the charity going – there were ideas she had for it that we’ll try and do going forward.”
