10 Challenges for Owen: Hucknall family raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity by taking on sporting themed challenges

A Hucknall family along with their friends are taking part in an array of sporting challenges to raise money for the brain tumour charity.

Hannah Jowitt, who lives in nearby Annesley, and her brother Andrew, are spearheading the fundraiser which is being held in honour and memory of their younger brother Owen.

Owen was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour back in 2001, when he was just two years of age. He had lifesaving surgery and chemotherapy which left him paralysed down one side of his body and his face.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, Hannah said: "He was in hospital 15/18 months post-surgery with the odd day visit home but eventually returned home.

"That had a massive impact on our family life obviously. I was 10 and Andrew was seven at the time so missing your parents for a significant period of your childhood or your parents trying to split their time anyway (is difficult).

"Ever since then, Owen was out of hospital. He had many visits back into hospital, with many more surgeries and check-ups and various other issues. He never ever let any of that impact him really in the person that he was. If anything, it just made him more determined to live as normal a life as he possibly could really.

"He absolutely loved sport, mainly cricket and football but any sport would do to be perfectly honest; I'm sure he'd have found a way to enjoy it."

In 2012, Hannah and Andrew along with their friend Joe, embarked on a gruelling charity cycle ride from Land's End to John o' Groats to raise money for Cancer Research UK. This was done in memory of Joe's Mum and one of the Jowitt's family friends who had both died from cancer a few years earlier. It was also done in honour of Owen who at this point had beaten the cancer.

However, tragedy struck, as the trio were halfway through completing the ride, Owen passed away suddenly at the age of 13. Understandably, the challenge was cancelled and what should have been a time of celebration is now synonymous with sadness and loss.

Hannah continued: "That's now 10 years ago and that's the main inspiration behind this challenge basically and his determination, stubbornness."

"I probably had the idea back in October, November, so not that long ago, and it was more me reflecting at the time and knowing it was coming up to ten years.

"It was around November because it was leading into the time when it was 20 years since he was diagnosed so I think that was probably why I was feeling quite reflective at the time.

"It came to me that I wanted to do something in memory of him and in honour of him and it felt like a good time especially because we'd never managed to successfully complete Land's End John o' Groats but I didn't want to just redo that.

"I had the idea of the cycle for me and Andrew, incorporating sporting venues that were pretty important to Owen and the family actually. However, then I started bouncing a few ideas around with friends and saying: 'what do you think of this?' That's when it kind of escalated to well we'd like to do something too and we'd like to do something, and that's where the idea of ten challenges for ten years was born."

For their challenge, Hannah and Andrew will take on a cycle ride that will spread across two days, totalling the best part of 200 miles. Day one will see them cycle from Old Trafford cricket ground to Trent Bridge on the first day, and from Trent Bridge to Lord's on the second. They will do this over the first weekend of July.

Hannah added: "Owen was a massive cricket fan but he was also a massive football fan and a massive Man U fan, unfortunately, so quite an important venue for him actually and we went there as a family to watch football at times as well. So from there through to Trent Bridge which we spent so many hours as a family watching cricket and Owen absolutely loved it there, watching the Outlaws and watching England there as well actually. We're doing that in day one and then on day two we're going to cycle down to Lord's which is the home of cricket, just trying to encompass the sports that meant so much to Owen really."

Not to be left out, Hannah and Andrew's parents, Dorothy and Trevor, will also be embarking upon a challenge each in memory of their son. Dorothy will be cycling 100 miles in a week on her exercise bike, and Trevor will be walking 26 miles along the Erewash valley, through Attenborough nature reserve, along the Trent and finishing at Trent Bridge.

There are seven other challenges taking place, the first of which begins tomorrow (Wednesday 9 March) and sees Hucknall based synchronised swimming coach Livvy Shelton swimming 21 miles (the length of the English Channel) over ten days.

Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so by visiting the Just Giving page which can be found here.