Race Across the World star Jo Gardiner’s ex-partner speaks out after losing her and son Sam

Race Across the World contestant Jo Gardiner’s ex-partner Andrew has launched a fundraiser in her memory, after their son Sam died just a year before her.

Andrew Gardiner, the father of Jo’s son Sam, has set up a JustGiving page following Jo’s death aged 61, with donations going to Diabetes UK.

Via JustGiving

Jo, who competed on Race Across the World with Sam in 2020, died following “a long and courageous battle with cancer”, her family confirmed.

The fundraiser comes after an unbelievably difficult year for the family, with Sam dying aged 24 following a car crash in Stockport in June 2025.

Jo and Sam appeared together on the second series of Race Across the World, travelling across South America from Mexico City to Ushuaia.

Now Andrew is raising money in Jo’s memory, with the fundraiser describing her as having a “can do attitude” and remembering her for her “wit” and “warmth”.

The JustGiving page says: “We are sad to announce the recent passing of Race across the World contestant, Jo Gardiner.”

It adds that Jo “spoke candidly during the journey through South America about her cancer diagnosis” before sadly “succumb[ing] to the disease”.

Jo is survived by her other son, Charlie, who is also named in the fundraiser.

Via Instagram

The page says: “Jo leaves behind Charlie Gardiner, after his brother and Race contestant Sam Gardiner, died in a car crash last year.”

Charlie has chosen to support Diabetes UK in memory of his mum, who was diagnosed with diabetes in her early teens and later became an ambassador for the charity.

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The fundraiser says Charlie wants to raise money “in the hope that other diabetics take inspiration from her fortitude and enthusiasm”.

It adds: “Having been diagnosed as diabetic in her early teens, Jo relished challenges and travel, and never let her condition hold her back.”

Jo’s family previously remembered her as “an intrepid adventurer” who was “brave, kind, witty and endlessly loving”.

They said she had “a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive” and “never did anything by halves”.

“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure,” they said.

The family asked those who knew Jo to remember her by doing exactly what she would have wanted: “tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.”

Jo’s death came just 12 months after Sam died from injuries sustained in a car crash.

Via BBC

The former Race Across the World contestant was just 24 when his car came off the road, rolled and landed on its side. He died three days later.

Following Sam’s death, his dad Andrew previously spoke to the National Organization of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder) about how Sam embraced his FASD and ADHD as his “super powers”, with the family also raising money for National FASD in his memory.

The Race Across the World team also paid tribute to Jo, offering their “deepest and heartfelt sympathies” to Charlie and her wider family and friends.

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Featured image via Instagram