Jo Gardiner, who appeared on the BBC travel series Race Across the World with her son Sam, has died at the age of 61, just one year after Sam was killed in a car crash. Her family confirmed that she passed away following a 'long and courageous battle with cancer'.
Family's tribute to a 'one of a kind' mother
In a statement, Jo's family remembered her vibrant spirit: 'She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves. She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.' They added, 'To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.'
The family also asked for privacy while encouraging those who knew Jo to celebrate her life in the way she would have wanted: 'As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but 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.'
Mother-son duo's memorable journey
Jo and Sam appeared in the second series of Race Across the World in 2020, racing across South America from Mexico City to Ushuaia in Argentina. Jo chose to take part in the show to experience an adventure with Sam, who had ADHD. They were among five teams competing in the series, which saw contestants travel thousands of miles without flying.
Sam died at the age of 24 after losing control of his car. The tragedy occurred just a year before Jo's own passing.
Race Across the World pays tribute
A spokesperson for Race Across the World expressed their condolences: 'We offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo's son Charlie, and her wider family and friends. 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.'
The spokesperson added: '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.'
