Race Across the World star Margo Oakley has shared a poignant tribute to her late sister Julia on what would have been her 65th birthday. The 60-year-old from Childwall captured the hearts of viewers with her uplifting personality and optimistic outlook during the latest series of the BBC show.
A Journey of Reconciliation
Margo took part in the race alongside her brother-in-law Mark Blythen, 67, from London. The pair had a strained relationship for nearly four decades, but everything changed after Julia fell ill in 2019 with a rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis. She passed away in 2022. Before her death, Julia made Mark and Margo promise to remain close friends, a promise they fulfilled by embarking on the adventure together.
Heartfelt Instagram Post
In an emotional Instagram post to her 17,000 followers, Margo shared a photo of herself with Julia and wrote: 'Julia should have been 65 today. She loved birthdays, celebrations, good food, good people, good stories and any excuse to raise a glass.'
She continued: 'She was my sister, my cheerleader, my partner in crime and one of the biggest influences in my life. What a year she would have had. She would have loved watching the madness of Race Across the World, all the adventures, the friendships and the wonderful people who have come into my life along the way.'
Margo added: 'Julia knew all my faults and loved me anyway, more importantly, she saw the good in me, often before I did, and encouraged me to be more myself, not less. She never wanted me to shrink, she always wanted me to shine and I still feel that.'
'So today I'd rather celebrate her than be sad. If Julia taught me anything, it's that life is for living. So if you'd like to join me, do something that brings you joy today. Call a friend. Raise a glass. Book the trip. Wear the dress. Always eat the cake. Whatever feels like celebrating being alive. Happy Birthday, Julia. I'll celebrate enough for both of us today.'
Outpouring of Support
Fans quickly flooded the comments with messages of love and support. One user, Deb, wrote: 'You are a tonic Margo and obviously made from the same stock as your lovely sister with your joyous attitude - As someone who also lost their best friend and sister to illness (far too early) I applaud your attitude to life - we all need to be more ‘Margo’ - happy birthday Julia.'
Another fan, Rach, commented: 'My sister sounds very similar to yours. I lost her nearly 9 years ago and miss her every day. A lovely tribute to your sister xx.'
