Mark is married to Jo and is a 23 year old youth and schools worker based in South Cave (near Hull). Mark spent 4 years as a youth worker in Peterborough whilst studying for a degree in youth work & ministry with Oasis.
Long term readers of this blog will know the love I have for Andrew McMahon’s band ‘Jack’s Mannequin’ having seen them live earlier this year and putting their ‘Everything in Transit’ album into my top 5 albums (and to this day it probably remains there).
Those who don’t follow the band may not be aware that after finishing the recording of Everything in Transit Andrew McMahon was diagnosed with Leukemia and spent months in hospital receiving treatment before having a bone marrow transplant and surviving.
During that time he carried a video camera and documented that time of his life, his fears and his feelings and a month ago that was released as ‘Dear Jack’ a DVD to go with his leukemia charity ‘The Dear Jack Foundation’ (link).
I ordered the DVD over the from States as it’s not released over here yet and it arrived this morning and so early this afternoon I watched it.
The documentary isn’t an easy thing to watch but is put together really well combining the excitement of Jack’s Mannequin which was going on in his life with the diagnosis of leukemia. The documentary features interviews with his (now) wife and his family (including his sister who donated bone marrow) and it’s a very moving documentary.
The DVD probably has a fairly niche market made up of primarily fans of Jack’s Mannequin or Something Corporate but gives such an insight to the experience of someone with cancer and their ups and downs making it a very eye-opening DVD to watch.
You can donate to the Dear Jack Foundation by following this link
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