A WINSFORD man who found solace in exercise after losing his brother to cancer is planning a touching memorial with his gym buddies.
Charlie Swift-Simpkin’s brother, Jordan Swift-Simpkin, died of an aggressive form of kidney cancer in December 2023.
Winsford-born Jordan was only diagnosed five months earlier, aged 43, and the shock of his death has been traumatic for brother Charlie, who described his as ‘his best pal’.
Since then, Charlie found physical exercise the best way to stop his grief becoming overwhelming, and he’s found the support of staff and clients at Brio Leisure gym in Winsford indispensable.
Now, with the help of his gym buddies, and especially personal trainer, Dale Halliwell, the Winsford-based gardener is planning a memorial walk up Snowdon, this summer.
The aim is to raise £5,000 to split between the cancer treatment unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, and St Kentigern Hospice, where Jordan died.
Charlie said: “Jordan was diagnosed with kidney cancer in July 2023, and it spread like wildfire to his spine, liver, kidneys, and his brain.
“He died on December 18, at St Kentigern Hospice in St Asaph.
“We were very close. He was my best pal. He’d moved to North Wales, but he was still really well known in Winsford.
“The people at the gym have been a really big help to me mentally over the past couple of months. I want this walk to be a celebration of them too, as well as to raise funds for the two charities.
“Because there’s so many people coming, and they’re all different ages and levels of ability, we’re going up the Llanberis path, which is the least technical. We can take our time up and down.
“We’ve booked a 53-seater coach, which is full already, and there are others coming in their own vehicles. It’s going to be a really big thing.”
Jordan wife’s Nicola, and their two sons, Jake and Louis, will also be taking part, joined by a coachload of Brio clients, staff, family, and friends where they’ll be conquering Wales’ highest peak on Sunday, June 2.
If you'd like to make a contribution to Charlie's memorial fund for Jordan, you can donate here.
“I’ve set up a training regime to get myself ready,” added dad-of-one, Charlie.
“The last time I did any hillwalking, it absolutely wrecked my knees to bits."
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