Last year I heard the sad news that John Erwin had died within a month of being diagnosed with Leukemia. John used to live round the corner from us and was a school mate of my brother and his next door neighbour Gareth Crockett.
Gareth and Jez, a university friend of John's, decided to go on an epic fundraising mission in memory of John and to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research. They set out last week starting off with a marathon around Moira, cycling to Dublin, the Dublin Marathon and then the ferry over to Wales. The plan was to cycle to Bristol and then London before completing the London Marathon on Saturday.
Tragically on Wednesday morning, about half way throught the challenge, Gareth was knocked down by a car and died at the scene. It is unbelievably poignant and sad and my love, thoughts and prayers are with Gareth's Mum and Dad, Emma, Jonny and Alison.
I don't know if Jez is continuing on the challenge but the appeal remains open and the boys have done it as the £10,000 target has already been surpassed. If you can do please offer your support by donating here.
I'll leave you with words from Gareth's sister Emma:
“He had been so delighted with all the donations to the challenge and raising awareness of leukaemia in memory of John,” she told the News Letter last night.
“We are all trying to get through this, but it has been great to see all the messages of support which have been left online for him and we know that he achieved what he set out to do, even though he didn’t get to finish the challenge,” said Emma.
She added: “We will never forget his intelligence, his dry wit and his great sense of humour.”
Newsletter
Two pieces of sea pottery set in fine silver; they are finished now but the image shows them in a nearly finished state. 
Six slimline stacker rings ready for polishing; they are all a bit mucky from sanding in the photo but will come out lovely and shiny after they've been in the tumbler. On the 23rd and 24th April I will be at the Galashiels Easter Craft and Gift Fayre and there will be a whole host of new pieces ready for the weekend.
This is our first time watching what comes up in the garden and, even though we've planted some bits, we weren't here this time last year so each day brings new and exciting discoveries.
At the end of this month we will be marking the first anniversary of living in the borders and my it's been a cracking year! Yesterday was the third session of the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning course we've been doing which marks half way. It will be good to have the qualification and the people on the course are all really friendly but I'll be glad when it's finished as I'll not have to be working on assignments!
Last week I got an offer for a GCSE examiner position which I was delighted to accept as it brings a little financial boost and will be funding a new camera. After several 'camera not working at the wedding' nightmares I need to have a back up camera before photographing the lovely Kate and Andrew's wedding in October! So it's all go in a good way. Enjoying work with plenty of time to enjoy the sunny days in the garden. On this day when another friend has left full time teaching I wish him huge amounts of happiness in his next adventure!
