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Jonathan's sister was just 38 and the mother of three young children when she discovered she had leukaemia. Jonathan felt that he had to do something and got involved with his local branch of Leukaemia Research in Harrogate. "Almost all of the people involved have been touched by leukaemia at some point in their lives and they're a really nice bunch of people."

The Harrogate branch of Leukaemia Research was founded 30 years ago and has raised around 拢250,000. Jonathan's first major fundraising effort was in 2002 just a few months after Jane's death, "She had a particularly virulant strain of the disease and although there were periods when she was well she died in the July just a few days after we'd celebrated my father's 70th birthday. In October my brother-in-law and I took part in the Great North Run."

Since then Jonathan has remained closely involved with the charity and has chaired the Harrogate branch for the last three years. "We meet around five times a year to decide on our fundraising activities but a lot more work goes on behind the scenes."

Leukaemia Research

Amongst their activities the branch has teamed up with local primary schools for its Valley Gardens Walk each October. Both the schools and Leukaemia Research benefit from the money raised. "It's these activities that help us raise as much as possible each year. This year we've had a single donation of 拢50,000 which is amazing and we're on target to raise around 拢70,000 in total."

Despite combining family life, a demanding job at Grant Thornton in Leeds and his commitment to Leukaemia Research, Jonathan is also involved with another Harrogate charity. "In 2002 I changed companies and I had to take some long leave between jobs. I wanted to do some volunteering preferably something outdoors.

"I was put in touch with Open Country, a charity based in Harrogate, that improve access to the countryside for anyone with a disability. I ended up working on conservation projects for them helping to build paths and so on." Jonathan has remained involved with 'Open Country' and now acts as a trustee for the charity.

Jonathan's charity work is a major part of his life but as he explains he gets a great deal out of it, "You've got to want to do it. I've been very fortunate in my life, I have a normal, loving family life. I've taken a lot out, this is an opportunity for me to put something back. All of us involved with Leukaemia Research have one hope, that eventually a cure will be found. Its small steps but they contribute to that bigger picture."

The work Jonathan does also helps keep his sister close to him, "Yes it's cruel that she should have been taken at such a young age. This is my way of acknowledging her. She remains an important part of our family life and when I did the Great North Run that final mile was extremely tough and a very emotional moment but I did feel really close to Jane."