Well there I am.....looking well and truely done in after running the Sheffield Half Marathon and raising a good few quid for Eastie's Fund - in a frustrating time of 2 hours 58 stinking seconds!....but that's pretty recent....and there will be people reading this thinking "What's Mick doing this website for then??"......we go back to the 6th of March 2006.

I phoned my mate (yeah the best mate you could wish for) Phil Smith (John's uncle) to see what he was upto and he sounded awful.  Now me and Phil both like the odd drink and I thought he'd just got a nasty hangover - but it turns out young John had passed away the day before.  What can you say, what can you do?  Answer - just be there for your mate, all I could think of at that moment was Phil, Anita, Dan, Katie and Charlotte - and the loss they had suffered.  I sorted a couple of songs out that were asked for at the funeral - I didn't go to the funeral, like I said at this point my involvment was just as a mate of Phil & Co.

Shortly after the funeral - Phil asked me if I wanted to go over and meet John and Gwen - they had a few ideas on this one off football game they were planning and wanted to look at a few other ideas and there computer was acting up so I said I would take a look at it for them.  So we went, I met John and Gwen - both of them gave me a hug that nearly broke me in two - we bashed a few ideas about, talked a bit about this organisation www.c-r-y.org.uk that they had been put in touch with and we went away.

I dont think we all appreciate what we have in life - because most of the time we just toss life off and take it for granted - so meeting John and Gwen was quite a profound experience, genuine people, lovely people and their grief was raw......so raw it cut me in two and from that day on - I did what I could to help out. 

From the one off game of football (yeah Phil.....RIGHT!!!), the sponsor forms, the tickets, the football festival programs and owt else I could design, fiddle with and run off at a good price - I've done it and shit I would do it 24 hours a day for the rest of my life if I could give all you guys just 5 minutes more with young Eastie.

I met Phil and Anita through Slimming World - I lost about 8 1/2 stone and they supported me 100% all the way through.  I existed rather that lived, Phil and Anita showed me there was more to life and I can never thank them enough for that.  I love them both like a brother and sister and we share the good and bad times.  They have been there for me when I have struggled with things and I help them with things when I can.

Then there's the kids - they don't say a lot but I know all this had a big impact on them - but they are so strong and I am so damn proud of them.  Dan, Katie and Charlotte - I love you guys all to bits too - but just one thing - STOP HITTING ME ON THE HEAD!!!!  Thank you all for making me smile whenever I see you.

So many people have been there involved in the organisational and delivery of every event we've staged - from the people who printed the programs for nowt, the burger buns from Warburtons, the use of Viva Tequila for the evening - blimey it's all been unbelievable.  

The likes of Doug Bevan (the bearded dynamo behind the J.A.E.M.F....oh you asked for that Doug....possibly!) he's just a legend and I suppose he's a bit like me - a mate of Phil's who just got stuck in and always gave his best, Carl Plant our resident Red Coat and karaoke guru - he's the brother!  There's so many people like Norman and Jenny, Steve from Viva Tequila and even my grandma who's 80 years young - rolled their sleeves up and did their bit for Eastie's fund.

The one thing that will remind me of "all things Eastie" is the c-r-y band I wear on my wrist 24/7 - my first one broke....broke my heart until I got a couple more and I now know I can get more!  Just to let you know - every mile I run, cross train or cycle - whether it's in the gym or out on the roads preparing for my next run.  However knackered I am - I smile and kiss the band.  That's just me - my little tribute and I truely feel honoured pulling on a race vest with young Eastie's picture on my back, running a race is not some contest to see who's the best - it's just support and I will keep on doing it and if you want to run with me...the more the merrier.

So before you all fall asleep - my final words are this....

I never met young John, so I can only imagine what he was like.  Fun, lively, full of life, kind, loved by his family and a lover of life.   All I can hope is that we can make his memory live on, raise money to fund screening and raise awareness of the condition.

I won't say "John and Gwen...I know how you feel" because I don't, no one does - I consider it an honour to know you both, I hope you like the website I created for you, a gift from me celebrating your beautiful son's life and the hope that lives on through everyone who supports the John Eastwood Memorial Fund.

Loads of love from your favourite Blade's fan....

High 6!!
Mick xx