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Squirrel Run raises £10k in memory of dad and son

Chris Craddock
BBC Jersey communities reporter
BBC Simon smiles at the camera as he wears a full body squirrel costume and he's doing Usain Bolt's winning pose. Simon has a yellow and green scarf on and people are gathered behind him and some are also dressed as squirrels.BBC
Simon Jones led the Squirrel Run in memory of father and son, Dean and Charlie Lowe

More than 85 people dressed up as squirrels to help raise more than £10,000 for Acorn Enterprises in memory of a Jersey father and son.

Dean Lowe and his 11-year-old son Charlie died after a hit-and-run collision in 2023.

Mr Lowe was active supporter of Acorn through his role at Jersey Employment Trust (JET), which helps people with disabilities and long-term health conditions find work and training.

Fundraisers ran or walked through St Helier to raise money for the charity and organisers hope it will become an annual event.

Dean Lowe has his arm around his son Charlie as they are by the sea. They both have red coats on. Dean has shaved hair on the side of his head and short grey hair which is brushed over. Charlie is wearing glasses and has short light brown hair. They are both smiling at the camera.
Dean and Charlie Lowe were much loved members of Jersey's community

Simon Jones, the under-25s co-ordinator for JET, led the Squirrel Run and said it had been "absolutely fantastic", adding: "Dean was not just a colleague, he was a friend and we just had to go nuts for him.

"Dean would have been splitting his sides seeing all his friends, family, and his clients getting together to do something good."

The charity put on the fundraiser after Mr Lowe dressed up as a squirrel to do the virtual London Marathon in 2023 to raise money.

Sophie and Alexa look at the camera in their squirrel costumes. Sophie has a green beanie hat on and sunglasses. Alexa has long light brown hair which comes out of her costume. There's a group of people behind them some are dressed as squirrels.
Sophie Reid and her daughter Alexa want to keep the memories of Dean and Charlie alive

Sophie Reid and her daughter Alexa, 11, were friends with Mr Lowe and Charlie and joined the Squirrel Run.

Ms Reid said: "My eldest daughter, Kyla, was Charlie's best friend", adding: "I've known Dean's partner, Ashleigh, for a long time.

"We just wanted to make sure that we're keeping the boys' names alive and to keep talking about them," she added.

Alexa was the youngest person at the run and said: "I didn't mind if I finished first or second, I just wanted to do it for Dean and Charlie."

Caroline smiles at the camera wearing a full body squirrel costume and a high viz jacket. She has black framed glasses on. Behind her people are gathered by a charity stand and many people are dressed as squirrels.
Caroline Spencer from JET hopes the Squirrel Run will become an annual event

JET fundraising manager Caroline Spencer helped organise the Squirrel Run.

She said they had "raised more than £10,000 pounds", adding it was "way more than we ever expected, it has been fantastic".

"I would love to see it an annual event and we just grow with it because we've had fantastic support from sponsors like the TMF Group," she said.

A large group of people in different squirrel costumes are looking at another man on standing on a bench who has a mega phone speaking to the crowd.
The squirrels warmed up at Wests Centre before making their way to the Royal Square

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