Family of much missed teen welcome 'lovely and kind' memorial garden

The family of much-missed Millers fan Owen Jenkinson have welcomed the “lovely and kind” news that a memorial sensory garden will open at his beloved Rotherham United football ground.

Owen, one of six siblings, passed away aged in November last year aged 17 after a long battle with cancer, leaving his family “heartbroken but proud of his wonderful life and legacy.”

Life-long Millers fan Owen from Whiston was a fit, healthy and sporty teenager when he was first diagnosed in Easter 2022 with rare cancer Ewing’s Sarcoma.

He endured chemotherapy and radiotherapy but the cancer returned just a year later and his parents Bill and Andrea Jenkinson thanked the community for their support including Rotherham United Football Club, Young Lives Versus Cancer, Make A Wish foundation, his local junior side AFC Pogmoor, Rotherham Titans, and PACT in Sheffield with fundraising starting under the Team Jenko brand.

The family of the former St Bernard's RC School pupil also started an annual month-long fundraiser 'Owen's October Challenge' raising money by walking, running, or wheeling five to 10km every day of the month to raise money for PACT (Parents Association of Children with Tumours and Leukaemia).

Now Rotherham United Official Supporters Club are putting the finishing touches to a memorial garden they have created at New York Stadium in memory of Owen which will have its official opening on October 8 as part of their year's October Challenge.

Dad Bill said: “The supporters club got in touch about this garden for Owen and other Millers fans affected by cancer and we thought it was just so lovely, so kind.

“We as a family feel part and parcel of RUFC and the support they have given us in recognising Owen's legacy.

“Now we will have this garden which we will see whenever we go to as it's close to the turnstile we use as a family on match days.

“Having raised increasing amounts for PACT over the years, this year we have set ourselves the challenge of raising £100,000 and it is great that after the official opening we will be continuing our run along the canal.

“We will also be running for (former RUFC manager) Ronnie Moore who last year joined us on the run and will be either wearing RUFC or Team Jenko shirts.”

Roy Squires from RUFC Supporters Club said: “Each rose planted in the garden has a name which reflects Owen and we picked them for a reason because of their names and their scents – so the roses have names like Sweet Dreams and Mama Mia.

“The bricks used in the finials were from Guest and Chrimes due to the generosity of (RUFC Chair) Tony Stewart, so when that building eventually is demolished, we still have a reminder of this previous successful business.

“Local building businesses including scaffolders have also been very kind and given their time for free to help us build this green space.

“The reason the flower bed is raised 1s we wanted to give easier access to those with mobility issues or wheelchair users the chance to experience the scented flowers so it acts as a sensory garden.

“We are formally dedicating the garden on October 8 with some invited VIPs and the Jenkinson family will also be attending and then doing their annual charity run from the garden along the river, finishing back at the garden.”

To support the challenge visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/owensoctoberchallenge2026?msockid=1a16a75f992269ee072cb3d99858685b