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Jessie May: Bristol man finishes year of charity challenges

Lloyd Kembrey Lloyd Kembrey after the London MarathonLloyd Kembrey
Lloyd Kembrey (right) ran the London Marathon in April

A man has completed 12 challenges in 12 months to raise money for a children's hospice that cared for his cousins.

Lloyd Kembrey, from Bristol, took part in an ice marathon in Finland, a triathlon in Wales and the Three Peaks Challenge, among others, in 2023.

He has raised almost £21,000 and will be capping off his year with a bungee jump in aid of the Jessie May charity.

"It has been an incredible year and the generosity of people has been amazing," Mr Kembrey said.

Jessie May provides at home nursing and respite care for children and young people with terminal conditions or illnesses.

Lloyd Kembrey Group of men in front of a climbing wallLloyd Kembrey
In January, Mr Kembrey was joined by his friends to climb the height of Mount Everest on a climbing wall

Mr Kembrey said he has been raising money for the charity since he was six-years-old.

His cousins, Francesca and Josephine, were born with the life-limiting condition, Sanfilippo disease Type A, and were cared for by Jessie May before their deaths in 2006 and 2009.

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The 12 completed challenges:

  • January: Climbing Mount Everest on a climbing wall
  • February: A 31 mile (50.2km) ice skating marathon in Finland
  • March: Welsh triathlon
  • April: London Marathon
  • May: Canoeing the length of the River Wye and the Westonbirt Triathlon
  • June: Walking 94 miles (151km) along the Jurassic Coast
  • July: 100 mile (160km) bike ride and a charity wrestling event
  • August: A 24-hour bike ride from California, Norfolk, back to Bristol, and a 9 mile (15km) Tough Mudder assault course
  • September: A relay swim the length of the English Channel
  • October: Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours and the Cardiff Half Marathon
  • November: Sodbury Slog 10 mile (16km) mud run
  • December: Bungee jump
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Mr Kembrey said that people across the UK have donated to the cause.

"When we were in Great Yarmouth preparing for the cycle ride, we got talking to a family at the train station.

"They had never heard of Jessie May but just gave us £50 there and then," he said.

Every month Mr Kembrey and different groups of friends had to prepare for the next challenge while completing another.

"We all have full-time work and you're having to think about your weekends," he said.

"When we did the canoe challenge, two of the guys had never canoed before for example.

"It was hard to squeeze it in."

Lloyd Kembrey Group of people on their bikesLloyd Kembrey
In July, they completed a 100 mile (160km) bike ride

Kim James-Coggins, from Jessie May, said she was "blown away" by Mr Kembrey's year of challenges.

"They had horrendous weather doing the Three Peaks and I've not heard them complain once," she said.

"The money they've raised will help families, but the awareness for what Jessie May does has been incredible.

"People could relate to them, they were so passionate about what they were doing, and I couldn't be prouder."

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