A YORK woman who began fundraising 20 years ago after her best friend died of breast cancer has received an award in recognition.

Jo Jackson from Strensall received the Volunteer of the Year award, sponsored by Aviva, at the York Community Pride awards on Thursday (September 5).

This adds to the Purple Rose award from Cancer Research UK which the Strensall resident recently won for her role as fundraising chair of Relay for Life York.

The 24-hour event is held every year in the city and celebrates the power of community fundraising in the fight to beat cancer.

Supporters said for eight years, under Jo’s leadership, the York event ‘has become one of the most successful ‘Relays’ in the UK and has raised more than £380,000’.

They added that she always volunteers at other events, including York’s Race for Life, and travelling to London to help out with its marathon.

Her fans said that she always goes the extra mile.

Jo began fundraising for Cancer Research UK in 2002 following the death of her best friend Larna, from breast cancer, aged just 34.

Larna and Jo (Image: Supplied)

On winning the Cancer Research UK award, at the start of 2024, Jo said everything she does for the charity is in the memory of Larna – adding that if she got the same diagnosis today, it’s likely she would have survived due to developments in research in the last quarter of a century.

After receiving her Community Pride Award, Jo said: “I feel very humbled and very proud.

“I want to thank everybody who’s in this room tonight.

“I’m just so in awe of what they’ve all done, but also my amazing teams, from Relay for Life York, and also my employer Compass Group, where we’ve raised millions of pounds.

“I couldn’t do it without their support.

“If she were here, Larna and I would be celebrating this award with a lovely glass of fizz somewhere.”