Ipswich: Tributes to athlete who died in road crash

Ben Jacobs competed for Felixstowe Road Runners in Suffolk

A former friend and colleague of an endurance athlete who died in a road crash has helped raise more than £11,000 for the family.

Father-of-three Ben Jacobs was cycling when he was involved in a crash with a car near Ipswich on Wednesday.

The 47-year-old was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and died two days later.

Steve Harding, who set up an online fundraising page, said the family could decide how best to use the money.

"He was an easy person to be with - a solid gentleman, loyal, hard working. He was fun - he was all the things you'd want someone to be," said Mr Harding, owner at Touchwood UK in Ipswich where he hired Mr Jacobs when he was a teenager nearly 30 years ago.

He went on to work as a kitchen painter and French polisher.

Felixstowe Road Runners decided to run as a group at Sunday's Woodbridge 10k in tribute

Mr Jacobs volunteered at Ipswich Parkrun in Chantry Park, which he had run 324 times and clocked a personal best of 17 minutes and 46 seconds.

Mr Harding said he had participated in ultra marathons, triathlons and cycling events, hitting more than 200 miles (322km) in a day.

Members of his club, Felixstowe Road Runners, ran as a group in tribute at the Woodbridge 10k race on Sunday - all wearing black ribbons on their chest.

Stuart Mason, chairman at the club, described Mr Jacobs as "immensely popular" and an "exceptionally talented" runner, who was a "leading light" on the local cross-country scene.

Mr Jacobs pictured cycling in Spain at a town bearing a name similar to his daughter Olivia

"Although he was a superb athlete he had absolutely no ego or arrogance and would advise and encourage club members of all abilities and ages in a quiet, humble and supportive way," said Mr Mason.

"As individual club mates, we will miss Ben, and as a running club, it will always feel like a key member is missing.

"The running community of Suffolk will be poorer without him."

'Special place'

Bethany Greaves, one of Mr Jacobs's siblings, said: "Ben was such a wonderful man, he was always there for his family and would do anything to help anyone.

"He was a devoted husband and father to his wife and children.

"He always made us laugh with his great sense of humour but was serious when he needed to be.

"He will be truly missed and forever hold a special place in our hearts."

Ben Jacobs took part in ultra marathons, triathlons and long-distance cycling events

Barnaby Jacobs, a brother, said: "Ben was the best big brother I could have ever asked for.

"When anyone in the family had a problem, Ben would always be the first person to offer help, even with a full-time job and a family to look after.

"He was never one to take himself too seriously and always wanted to make everyone around him smile."

Suffolk Constabulary has asked for anyone with information about the incident on Church Road in Bentley to get in contact.

Two other members of Felixstowe Road Runners were cycling with Mr Jacobs at the time - one of whom suffered minor injuries.