Family organises final memorial 10km run

Jayson Lee's mum Margaret said it was the right time for the family to stop organising the event

The family behind a memorial charity run held in memory of a police officer have said they had a "perfect" ending to their time organising the event.

The 2024 Jayson Lee 10k Memorial Run in aid of Jersey Hospice Care took place on Sunday at FB Fields in St Clement.

The family of Mr Lee - who died while playing football in 2009 - said it would be the last time they would run the event, which has been held annually for 16 years.

However, it has been confirmed Jersey Hospice Care will carry on the run under a new name as a legacy to him.

The family behind the Jayson Lee 10k Memorial Run said this year would be the last time they would organise it

The 2024 run was held on what would have been Mr Lee's 54th birthday.

His mother Margaret Lee said it was a difficult decision to step away from organising the event, which has raised more then £95,000 since it started.

But she added it felt like the right time for the family to bring their time as organisers of the event, which was initially only planned to be a one-off run, to an end.

Ms Lee said the family have thoroughly enjoyed organising the event over the years and believed her son would have been pleased with it all.

"He helped a lot of people and he was always encouraging people to have a go at sport, so this has been perfect," Ms Lee said.

Cheri Strudwick said Jersey Hospice Care are going to organise their own annual 10km run as a legacy to Jayson Lee

Ms Lee added the family were delighted Jersey Hospice Care had decided to organise their own event - which will be called the Jersey Hospice Care 10k - in future years.

Cheri Strudwick, director of income generation at the hospice, said the run had become a flagship event in the island's calendar, so they wanted to keep it going in some form.

"It is really important for us to continue it," Ms Strudwick said.

"It has benefitted so many islanders to get the care that they need."