Former Race Across The World competitor Jo Gardiner has died at the age of 61.
In a statement released on Monday morning, Jo’s family announced that she had died “following a long and courageous battle with cancer”.
“She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves,” they said (as reported by Metro). “She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.
“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.”
Jo’s family ended by making a call for privacy, adding: “We also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.
“She was one of a kind. There will never be another her.”
Jo and her son Sam took part in the second season of Race Across The World, which took the competing teams from Mexico City to Ushuaia, Argentina.
The pair finished in fourth place overall, after having to drop out during the penultimate leg after running out of money.
Last year, Sam died suddenly at the age of 24, following a car accident.
“On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends,” a Race Across The World rep said on Monday.
“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.
“At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her. Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across The World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.”
