AN INSPIRATIONAL Barrow man has spoken about how his tragic past helped to define his mindset.

As a 10-year-old, aspiring footballer Joe Jackson signed for Burnley, leaving him feeling ‘on top of the world’.

But when he was 14, tragedy struck his family.

His sister sadly passed away after suffering a brain haemorrhage when she was just 12 years old.

Joe said: “It was through my pain that grew fuel, a burning desire to do something with my life, to make the most of every second and achieve my dreams in her memory.”

Joe would go on to sign a professional contract with Burnley and play for Workington AFC – already achieving his footballing dream.

He had also returned to college to take his A Levels and at 20, was on the verge of signing for Barrow AFC.

However, in 2014, the day before receiving his exam results, Joe received a devastating phone call about a blood test his mum had urged him to get after he had been feeling run down.

Joe would learn that he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Undergoing cancer treatment at The Christie, Joe suffered with severe headaches, and a CT scan of Joe’s head revealed that there were multiple blood clots.

Doctors administered blood thinners and Joe was told that the next 12-24 hours would be critical.

Joe said: “Despite the chaos erupting around me, it was at this point that for the first time I felt at peace.

“Mentally I had given myself permission to go, my mind had given up.”

However, his ‘body kept fighting’ and Joe pulled through, battling through psychological and physical hurdles until he was eventually given the all-clear in 2018.

And despite achieving one mark shy of the grade needed in his A Levels, Joe’s determination saw him fly through university and achieve a top job.

He said: “Five years after the diagnosis of cancer I’d achieved my second dream, and that was a job at one of the biggest investment banks in the world!

“I just want to make the most of every moment.”

Joe has worked hard to achieve his dreams and would like to help others through Pitch Up Events, a company he created alongside friends James Bonner and James Howden.

Pitch Up Events has created the ‘Furness Future Stars Fund’ to help talented, local people to achieve their dreams by providing financial assistance.

They have also created a podcast to showcase local talent.

To hear more about Joe’s story, you can visit the Pitch Up Events YouTube channel at @pitchupeventsltd or listen to the Pitch Up podcast on streaming services such as Spotify.