If Only We Had Forever…
The death of a partner is devastating at any age, but when you are in your 40s, you don’t expect such a cruel twist of fate. RH10 resident Jayne Archer, widowed at 40 has used the pain of loss to inspire herself and others – she has thrown herself into charity fundraising and is now a published author.
It is now seven years this March since Jayne’s seemingly healthy husband Mark Archer passed away, weeks after receiving a blood cancer diagnosis. Mark was just 49-years-old, Jayne describes him as having a ‘zest for life and a love for music’ lost a short but brave battle with mantle cell lymphoma.
After spending months, lost in the safety of her sofa, Jayne decided she needed to live and started to search for a new future. She went on to create a charity tribute fund in Mark’s name and set herself a target of raising £50,000 by the time she is 50, which will also mark a decade since Mark’s passing.
The current total stands at a figure of around £19,000 so far. To achieve this Jayne has faced, and in turn, overcome her fears in ways she did not think possible. Memorably, she faced her fear of heights with a sponsored climb to the top of London’s O2 Arena – scaling the famous canvas-topped venue.
Jayne has now put pen-to-paper writing and self-publishing a book entitled If Only We Had Forever, an inspirational account of her life together with Mark and the rollercoaster ride of life since his death. Jayne hopes the book will offer comfort to others who have lost a loved one to cancer.
If Only We Had Forever is an inspirational real life story by widow Jayne Archer, who’s keeping her late husband’s memory alive and is learning to smile again.
The motivation to write the book, which was published in December according to Jayne is to tell her story to inspire those who feel the fear and emptiness of losing a loved one to cancer and let them know that they are not alone. She tackles in the book life both in good times and in bad.
“Somehow my story and Mark’s memory keeps on growing. I am here today not quite believing everything that has happened in the last few years. A writer, a published author, a backing singer of sorts.’
“And a girl who is determined to make Mark’s legacy help others and show he didn’t leave the world in vain and that one day no one will have their hearts shattered and life destroyed by blood cancer,” Jayne said.
[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=”600″]For more information about The Mark Archer Tribute Fund, visit www.mhatributefund.co.uk.
If Only We Had Forever is available to buy from the website with half of all proceeds going to The Mark Archer Tribute Fund at nationwide charity Bloodwise to fund research into causes and treatment.
[/box]By Jacob White
