DOZENS of friends and family turned out to celebrate a Chester fundraiser's successful feat in memory of three much-missed people.
Earlier this year, John Jennings ran around the Chester City Walls in memory of his daughter Michelle Jennings, his niece Rebecca Coriam, and Alec Brown, a close friend of his lifelong friend William Hughes.
John Jennings completed his City Walls ultra marathon earlier this year. Below, certificates of thanks are presented by John at Alexander's Live. (Top two images taken by Jeff Price)
That event took place on Michelle's birthday, with John wearing a photo of his daughter throughout on his running top.
And John completed the gruelling event after beating his initial distance target of 32 miles, chalking up 34.5 miles by the end.
To celebrate the handing over of cheques totalling more than £5,000 each to John's chosen charities – MIND and the Hospice of the Good Shepherd – a thanksgiving night was held at Alexander's Live in Chester, hosted by John and William.
Certificates of thanks are presented at the thanksgiving night, hosted by fundraiser John Jennings at Alexander's Live in Chester.
Michelle sadly lost her fight with mental health on October 3, 2020. Rebecca Coriam went missing at sea from the Disney Wonder ship on March 22, 2011, never to be found, and Alec Brown passed away from cancer, having been cared for at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.
At the thanksgiving night, John presented certificates of thanks to local businesses and members of the community who had supported him over the past few years.
They include: Grosvenor St Investments, Wynnstay Joinery, Nichols & Co, Riqueza Group, Matt Finish Kitchen Respray, Chester Sports Massage, Chelma Graphics, Chester Cosmetic & Dental Care, Matthews Block Management, Hoole Bridge Building Supplies, Byrne's Auctioneers & Valuers, Jayne Clarke Lettings and Property Management, Humphreys Estate & Letting Agents, The Moorings, Blackwell's Stonecraft, AEclipse Auto Enrolment Consultancy, Bridge Inn, Jax, Aligned Health Clinics, Chester Tackle Locker, Abbey Student Rentals, Changing Home, Graham Walker Prestige Cars, KH Aesthetics, Natasha's Dog Grooming, Abacus and Chester's Dee Radio.
Certificates of thanks are presented at the thanksgiving night, hosted by fundraiser John Jennings at Alexander's Live in Chester.
On the night, John also presented a medal to Scarlet Houghton, who fought leukaemia when she was four years old. John completed a charity run so she could be sent to Disneyland Paris via the charity Miles of Smiles.
John said Scarlet has been cancer-free for 14 years now and is "the most inspiring girl I know", adding Scarlet's mother had sponsored his ultra marathon run.
John added: "the night was a great turnout with about 80 family and friends turning up. I want to thank them all for not just turning up but for being there over the past three years.
"It's three years on October 3 since Michelle left us. As time keeps passing by I miss her more and more."
Prior to the thanksgiving night, John was invited to the new Chester base of the Martin Gallier Project, a charity dedicated to helping individuals and families across the North West. It offers support to individuals experiencing suicidal crisis and training to individuals and groups for suicide intervention.
John said, as he went round the new Werburgh Street centre: "I was met with a warm caring feeling and all I could think of was Michelle would've got the help she needed there.
"As I stood on the step on my way out, holding back the tears and emotion, I had a deja vu from almost three years ago when we followed Michelle's carriage being pulled by the four white horses from Ellesmere Port, then remembered them pulling up right outside this very place.
"It sent a shiver through me and I realised that although Michelle could not be saved by the new hub, so many more people can be. It was almost like she had sent me a message!
"I went back inside and told them on Sunday night, on our night of thanks and remembering Michelle, we were having a raffle and all the money we raise will be going to the Martin Gallier Project."
A total of £500 was raised from the raffle on the night of thanks.
For more information on the Martin Gallier Project, visit https://www.themartingallierproject.org/ or follow them on Facebook TheMartinGallierProject
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