Race Across the World star Jo Gardiner dies a year after son tragically died aged 24
A Race Across the World contestant, whose son Sam died in a car accident aged just 24 last year, has died following a battle with cancer.
Jo Gardiner and her son Sam appeared on the popular BBC show in 2020, travelling together across South America in the second season of the show.
Sam died in June of last year in a single vehicle collision whilst home in Manchester for a family gathering, with pairs from the latest series of the show running the Great Manchester Run this year in his honour.
A statement from Jo’s family said she had passed away ‘following a long and courageous battle with cancer’, adding that she was ‘an intrepid adventurer, brave, kind, witty and endlessly loving’.
Jo was a physiotherapist from Manchester and is survived by her son Charlie. The family statement continued: “She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves.
“She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.
“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.
“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.
“As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.
“She was one of a kind. There will never be another her.”
Sam's death last year came as the 24-year-old was driving his Volkswagen Golf when the vehicle came off the road, with Jo and his dad Andrew releasing a statement at the time saying: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident.
"Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special.
"Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went," the statement continued. "He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts.
"We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade."
Participants from every series of the BBC show came together to take part in the Great Manchester Run in honour of Sam, with the winner of season two Emon Choudhury telling the BBC: "Sam was one of those people you never forget. The kind of person who could light up a room without even trying."
In a statement, a Race Across the World spokeswoman told LADbible: "On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends.
“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.
"At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing - and that is how we will always remember her. Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed."
Topics: BBC, Celebrity, TV and Film, TV, Cancer
Michael Slavin