memmo moments: Mother and son lift each other's spirits with memmos

On April 1, 2021, Jo Brookes was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Worried that it might be her last Christmas, her son Zach wanted to make it a memorable one.

After hearing positive things about memmo.me, 26-year-old Zach decided it was the perfect avenue to make his mum’s Christmas unforgettable. So he called in some help from Olympic track athlete and World Champion Sir Mo Farah to give her some much needed motivation.

Jo was over the moon when she received her video message from Mo, and Zach enjoyed every moment of watching its impact: “It brightened up her evening. She felt like she was on cloud nine.”

Discussing Jo’s memmo, Sir Mo Farah says: “Jo and Zach received some sad news but both of them have been so strong in a tough time and are tackling it head on. With my message I tried to bring some joy to them, let them know I’m thinking of them, and encourage them to keep fighting every day.”

Amongst many empowering words in his memmo, Mo encourages Jo to “take each day at a time and keep believing in yourself.”

The memmo made Jo feel good about herself. “It gave me my purpose back and sense of belonging,” she says.

Since Zach found out about his mum’s diagnosis, he has been involved in fundraising events where he’s raised over £1,000. He also started his own Instagram page dedicated to his cause, all to raise awareness and money for several cancer charities.

In an Instagram post caption, he divulges into his motivations. Due to Zach’s autism and ADHD, Jo has had to ‘fight towards everything throughout my life’, as Zach says. “Now it’s my turn.”

Wanting to thank her son for all that he’s done for her, Jo decided to return the surprise to him with a memmo from John Ross Bowie.

With no expectations of receiving a memmo back, Zach was totally surprised by his mum’s gesture. He explains that the highlight was “being able to have motivation and validation from someone who I watch on TV.”

In his video message to Zach, John Ross Bowie says how proud he is of him: “I hope you feel very accomplished about the incredible things you’re doing.”

Seeing her son receive recognition and praise for all his hard work was an incredible and rewarding experience for Jo.

Tobias Bengtsdahl, CEO of memmo.me, says: “It’s wonderful to see memmos being used in such a pure, heartwarming context; a mother and son going out of their way to do something special for one another, for the simple want of lifting spirits during their difficult circumstances.”

Both Jo and Zach gave each other the hope and motivation they needed. Zach wanted to provide his mum with ‘good times and memories’, and these memmos have done just that.

Watch the memmo moments: