Dubai: Supporters and staff of the Gulf for Good charity are mourning the loss of their former Challenge director, Andy Jackson, 52, from the UK, who was killed in a motorbike crash in Michigan in the US on July 13.
The charity said Jackson was the sort of guy who lived life to the full, so his death came as a terrible shock to his family and friends.
Voluntary Gulf for Good charity governor Tricia Evans said: "It seems quite unbelievable that Andy is dead. He was one of the most ‘alive' people I know. I loved his wicked sense of humour, and the fact that he simply never stopped learning and growing."
In a statement the charity said: "We are devastated to announce that Andy Jackson died. As well as being incredibly fit, Andy was a huge supporter of Gulf for Good. He led several Gulf for Good challenges and was our Challenge director for a number of years."
Hundreds of messages of condolence have been posted on a Facebook page set up in Jackson's memory by his Barrelhouse rugby friends.
On the page his friends describe Jackson as a "top bloke".
Jackson had lived in the UAE for more than 30 years and owned the Environmental Systems International company in Sharjah, which makes water recycling systems, secondary spill-containment equipment and biodegradable cleaning products.
Mid-morning mishap
His motorbike crash happened mid-morning on July 13 on an exit ramp to Red Arrow Highway in Michigan. He lost control of his motorcycle, skidded and hit a guardrail, local media reported. Peter Smith paid tribute to his friend on the Facebook memorial page by writing: "A long and fun friendship for myself and family cruelly cut short. With his quirky sense of humour and endless enthusiasm Andy was an integral character of the Dubai scene. We love him and will miss him. Your memory will always bring a smile to all of our faces. RIP [rest in peace] old chum."
Gulf News reported in 2005 how Jackson entered his dog, an Abyssinian whippet named Rockit, in the 1.1km Medicines Sans Frontieres-Burj Al Arab swim.
Jackson had adapted a child's life jacket to help the dog stay buoyant. At the time Jackson said he was looking forward to seeing the organiser's faces when Rockit Jackson turned up to pick up her race number.
"Charity events are all about turning heads and having fun and Rockit will certainly do that," Jackson said at the time. "I ran the London Marathon dressed as a leopard once and I thought it was Rockit's turn to stand out."
Sympathy note
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