Widow’s walk in memory of the husband she lost after only 18 months

Widow Jayne Archer was married for only 18 months when her life was torn apart by the death of her husband.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th May 2014, 16:23 BST
Mark Archer from Pound Hill, Crawley, who died in 2010 SUS-141205-151628001Mark Archer from Pound Hill, Crawley, who died in 2010 SUS-141205-151628001
Mark Archer from Pound Hill, Crawley, who died in 2010 SUS-141205-151628001

Mark Archer was just 49 and had been ill for only 40 days with a rare form of blood cancer called Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Jayne said: “We were married for just 18 months and five days. I spend a lot of my time working on events to promote Mark’s tribute fund to raise awareness and funds so, one day, in my lifetime, no one will have their heart shattered and their life destroyed by losing someone so precious to blood cancer.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jayne, 44, has set up the Mark Henry Archer Tribute Fund for the charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and is organising a Paws to Beat Blood Cancer Dog Walk in Balcombe on June 14.

Jayne Archer with dog, Hendrix, both doing a walk in memory of Jayne's husband, Mark SUS-141205-151640001Jayne Archer with dog, Hendrix, both doing a walk in memory of Jayne's husband, Mark SUS-141205-151640001
Jayne Archer with dog, Hendrix, both doing a walk in memory of Jayne's husband, Mark SUS-141205-151640001

She said: “Mark was a truly lovely, beautiful person with a zest for life and living. He had a passion for history and Lord Nelson, Derby County Football Club, playing golf, a real love of music especially Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin; we would often go to music gigs; he was definitely one of the good guys!”

Mark worked at Gatwick Airport and died in March 2010. Jayne, who lives in Pound Hill, Crawley, chose Balcombe for her second fund-raising dog walk with her own dog, Hendrix, as close friends own the Balcombe Tea Rooms.

She added: “It’s a friendly village with a strong community. The countryside lends itself to a beautiful walk, too. There is also space in the recreation ground to have some other local stalls - the Petshed Burgess Hill and Born & Bred England from Hove, to make this a proper event that, hopefully, villagers and dog lovers from the local area alike can come along have a lovely walk and enjoy some delicious cake, tea and coffee and our special four-pawed lovelies can enjoy a fresh drink and some biscuits.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The route is three miles. Entrance is £10 per dog with one owner, £2 per additional person. All dogs who complete their walk will receive a special dog collar tag and a poop bag holder.

Mid Sussex District Council is supporting the event as well as David Clare Vets in Crawley.

Walkers can start between 10am and 3pm. Registration form are available at Balcombe Tea Rooms, or you can register on line at beatingbloodcancers.org.uk/paws.

For further information email [email protected] or go to the page Mark Henry Archer Tribute Fund at Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research or on Facebook.

Related topics:Jimi HendrixNelsonEngland