24-Hour ‘Farm Fitathon’ in Memory of Leeswood Husband

A local woman is turning personal heartbreak into action to raise funds for Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham.

Gayle Jones from Leeswood, is heading a 24-hour charity distance relay in memory of her late husband, Mark Evans, who passed away in 2018 from an aggressive brain tumour.

The event, taking place on Saturday, July 19 at Farm Fit Club in Mold, will see dozens of members of the not-for-profit gym take on a relays of functional exercises on the hour, every hour, starting and ending with a group 5kmk run to Mold town centre. The goal is to try and cover the 45,062 metre (28 mile) round trip from the gym, located on Mold Denbigh Road, to the hospice where Mark spent his final days, as many times as possible in one day.

Mark, a devoted husband, passed away aged just 48 on 17th December 2018 after being diagnosed with Glioblastoma following a stroke in January earlier that year. Gayle, who became his full-time carer during his illness, describes Nightingale House as a lifeline during the most painful chapter of her life.

She said: “I will never be able to give back to Nightingale what they gave to me. The nurses were incredible, and gave Mark the best care over the three weeks he spent there in his final days. But they also looked after me. We spent six weeks there in total – and that was after spending 26 weeks away in total. When mark arrived at the hospice in November the nurses set up a bed next to him so we could be together. They took all the caring responsibilities away and I felt like his wife again and not just his carer. That meant the world to me.”

Gayle, a committed member of Farm Fit Club, is the driving force behind the event. The gym, a social enterprise focused on improving mental and physical health through connection and community, immediately rallied behind her idea.

Participants will take turns using a range of exercise equipment, from rowing machines and ski ergs to burpee broad jumps and sled pushes, to collectively cover 1,900 metres per hour over the 24-hour challenge. The inclusive approach means that people of all fitness levels can take part. Gayle added that Mark would be “blown away” by the community’s efforts.

Robin Jones, farmer and founder of the Farm Gym, said this type of event aligns perfectly with the organisations values. He added: “We want to make sure anyone can join in, whether it’s cycling, rowing, burpees, or pushing a sled. It’s not about individual strength; it’s about all of us coming together. We’re all about community and lifting each other up, and it’s so amazing to see so many people sign up to support Gayle with this special idea.”

The original fundraiser Gayle planned in 2020 was put on hold due to the pandemic, but now, with the support of her Farm Fit family, she’s more determined than ever to honour Mark’s memory and give back to the hospice that gave her comfort in the darkest of times.

Community members are invited to take part, donate, or support by providing refreshments for the participants.

To donate, sign up, or offer support, visit: https://gofund.me/e7b9a769