Girl Vs. Cancer, founded by Lauren Mahon, is to launch a new collection to celebrate the unwavering spirit of Jack Morgan, and to encourage others to #BeMoreJack

Lauren Mahon met Jack Morgan through Instagram in 2017, and they soon became “Marsden Mates”, a reference to the hospital where they both received treatment for cancer.

Jack was given the all clear from his rare undifferentiated carcanoma, the condition he was in treatment for when he and Lauren met. However, in early 2019 cancer cells returned, this time in his lungs, and Jack sadly died last August. As Lauren recalls, he was; “defiant and full of hope until his last breath.”

Today, on World Cancer Day, Lauren and Jack’s family members and friends came together to shoot for #BeMoreJack, a fundraising and awareness campaign and clothing collection to celebrate his life and urge others to live theirs to the fullest.

“I had the privilege of calling Jack a friend, of having first hand experience of his courageous attitude and shining light,” Lauren shares. “He would often talk about survivor’s obligation - how it is our duty to live big and help others - because we can.”

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Mighty Good Man 💕 Couple Of Days Ago When I Chatted To @ItsMe_JMo. I Asked If There Was Anything He Needed From Me. Company? Pizza? Telephone Call? ‘A Cure For Cancer?’ He Joked. Oh I Fucking Wish I Had It Jacky Boy. Even Until You Closed Your Eyes For The Last Time Today. Full Of Hope. Full Of Positivity. Full Of Light. Thank You For Being Such An Awesome Friend. It Has Truly Been An Honour To Have You In Our Lives. You Will Always Mean So Much To Me. I Am Beyond Heartbroken. You’ll Live On On The Lips Of All You Inspired Mate. And In The Hearts Of All Who Love You So Dearly. To Your Family & Friends. I’m Wholeheartedly Sorry. Sending You Love. Sending You Strength. Rest In Power My Wonderful Friend. No More Pain. I Love You. For Always. xx

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“I’m dedicating this collection to Jack to ensure his message and drive to support our community continues. What better way to do that than create a campaign in Jack’s name and a collection housing the quote he’d often sign off his insta posts with; ‘I haven’t come this far, to only come this far.’”

The quote is the inspiration behind the call to action - a pledge to make leap day (Saturday 29 February) count - for Jack and for all those we have loved and lost to cancer over the years.

Lauren wants everyone to seize the day in the spirit of #BeMoreJack and make a leap for themselves. “On this extra day of the year, people can commit to something big or small. It may to be more brave and try or new cuisine or skydiving, be more generous and volunteer, or even be more sassy and finally ask that person out on a date.”

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Come This Far ✨ Today Marks Our Boy @itsme_jmo’s 23rd Birthday. No Doubt In My Mind He Is Close By. Drinking In All Of Our Love For Him. I Remember Coming Out Of The @RoyalMarsden. Receiving Yet Another DM From Some Dude Called Jack. He Asked If I Was Around. I Wasn’t. He Persisted. And Oh Glad I Am That He Did. After Getting Chatting We Quickly Became Marsden Mates. Jack’s Smile. Jack’s Attitude. Jack’s Aura. Nothing Short Of Fucking Infectious. I Got Him Along To The Next @GIRLvsCANCER Shoot. And Everyone Else Fell For Him Too. Hook. Line. Sinker. As Cancer Tends To Do It Threw An Almighty Curveball. In 2019 Jack’s Sneaky Cancer Cells Were Back. They Were In His Lungs. They Weren’t Playing Fair. Jack May Have Passed In The Physical Form. But His Spirit And Legacy Lives On. We Are Making Sure It Will. I Dreamt About Him This Week. Jacky Boy. No Words Exchanged. He Winked. We Hugged. I’d Like To Think He’s Giving His Seal Of Approval. For What Has Been Going On Behind The Wings. I Mentioned That The Next #GIRLvsCANCER Collection. Would Be Paired Back. Plugging Into The Essence Of This Community. And Nobody Represents That Better Than Jack. Keep Your Eyes Peeled On Tuesday 4th February. On World Cancer Day. Right Here. For The Announcement Of #BeMoreJack. And How You Can Get Involved. Alongside His Friends, Fam, Medical Team & @justmoetry. Proud To Be Creating This In His Honour. I Love You JM. Always Will xxx

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The campaign also chimes with Lauren’s own perspective on life. Last summer, at the inaugural Happy Place Festival, she encouraged the crowds to stop waiting, and start doing - emphaising how precious life is, and the lack of guarantees when it comes to our health. The approach is one Lauren admitted she is still personally working on, when she appeared on the cover of Happiful last December.

Sharing her thoughts on the shoot today, she explained; “This campaign and collection will hopefully remind us all that we, luckily, have the opportunity to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. I really hope people embrace #BeMoreJack and carry his spirit of positivity on.”

The #BeMoreJack Collection 2020 collection will be on sale from Saturday 29 February, exclusively through Girl Vs Cancer. 25% of the profits will be donated to The North London Hospice.

Sign up at Girl Vs Cancer to hear more about the collection, follow Girl Vs Cancer on Instagram and share your commitment to make leap day count, using #BeMoreJack.