Jo loses cancer fight

9:25am Thursday 7th June 2007

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BRAVE Jo Davies has died from cancer exactly four years to the day she was diagnosed.

Mrs Davies, 33, who lived with husband Chris and son Harvey, five, in Broadlands Road, Weymouth, underwent treatment but became more seriously ill and bed-bound over the last few months before her breathing worsened in recent days.

She died yesterday at 1.25 with her husband Chris and mother Camiel by her side. She also left a sister, Kerry Swords.

Mrs Davies died days after her friends Sarah Breaks and Jo Richards completed a 50-mile sponsored walk called the Jo-Rassic Challenge - and on the same day as funds raised broke through the £9,000 mark.

Civil servant Mr Davies, who works at County Hall, said that Jo died in his arms with her mum holding her hand.

He added that she seemed to have battled on until Mrs Richards and Mrs Breaks completed the walk over the weekend.

Former All Saints' School pupil Mrs Davies was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2003, which she battled with support from friends, family and health workers.

She underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy in her fight against the tumour.

Mrs Davies, who was a music teacher, wrote a poem called But Remember This during sessions at the Trimar Hospice in Weymouth.

It was read out to introduce an evening to celebrate the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day at the Tate Modern art gallery on London's South Bank last October.

She devised the idea for the Jo-Rassic Challenge for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust with Mrs Breaks and Mrs Richards.

The duo finished the walk over the weekend when more than 150 wellwishers met them to walk the last mile to Café Oasis at Overcombe Corner.

Sponsors have helped them over the £9,000 mark for the walk from Sidmouth to Overcombe Corner.

Mr Davies, their son Harvey, friends, family, former school friends and workmates of Mrs Davies, Mrs Richards and Mrs Breaks joined them for the last mile to Overcombe Corner.

Mrs Breaks and Mrs Richards said they were overwhelmed by the number of people that met them and sponsored them, and were very grateful for all of the support.

They told Mrs Davies how well it went and said that they were sure she understood.

They are still collecting sponsorship money.

Go to the Just Giving site at http://www.justgiving.com/jorassicchallenge to donate money.