A son from Merseyside has undertaken an extraordinary physical challenge to honour his mother, who died suddenly while preparing for a night out with friends.
A Life Cut Short
Karen Andrews, a 52-year-old mother-of-three and dedicated nurse, tragically passed away from a brain aneurysm on Remembrance Sunday in 2018. Her son, Jake Keogh, last saw her in high spirits just hours before discovering her in her bedroom.
Jake, then 24, recalled the devastating moment he found his mother. "I had gone out for a walk and came back around two hours later. I found her lying on her bed in her room," he shared. A post-mortem examination later confirmed she had suffered a bleed on the brain.
A Son's Tribute
Seven years after his mother's sudden passing, 29-year-old Jake from Woodchurch organised a marathon 52-hour walk - one hour for every year of his mother's life. The gruelling challenge began at 12.15pm on Friday, November 7 and concluded at 5.15pm on Sunday, November 11 - precisely the time he had discovered his mother years earlier.
Jake described the emotionally charged journey as "deliberately and meaningfully planned" to create a sense of closure. "This weekend was about turning something so awful into something more powerful and prove you can come full circle on these things," he explained.
Overcoming Physical and Mental Barriers
The walk pushed Jake to his absolute limits. He trekked continuously through day and night, stopping only briefly to rest, eat or use the toilet. After approximately 13 hours, he developed severe pain in his right knee that persisted throughout the remaining 39 hours of the challenge.
"People were dropping off knee braces for me because I'd lost so much movement," Jake recalled. Despite the physical agony and sleep deprivation, he remained determined to complete the tribute to his mother.
Jake also highlighted the walk's importance in addressing men's mental health struggles. "After I lost my mum, I was in a really bad place for a long time. I wanted to be open and vulnerable about it," he said, hoping his story would encourage others to speak openly about their mental health.
The challenge concluded with an emotional surprise as Jake reached the finish line to find 50-60 supporters cheering him on with banners. "That's the best moment of my life," he said, visibly moved by the community's support.
Karen Andrews had served as a nurse for approximately 20 years and was a sister on the M1 ward at Clatterbridge Hospital at the time of her death. Her colleagues established a memorial in her honour, and nurses formed a guard of honour in the rain at her funeral.
Jake remembered his mother as someone with a "dry sense of humour" who was "caring in a tough love way." He added: "If she could do something for you, she would. She'd give you the last penny in her purse if she thought you needed it."
