This is a big challenge for me. After loving running before, I've hardly run since Miles died in May. It's going to be a push to get trained up for this in just under 8 weeks but I know every bit of support received will give me extra fuel not just to train but also to get me through the next few months and my final term at university. 

Coming back to Exeter last September after a year out in Hong Kong was always going to be a relatively jarring experience.  But after losing Dad in April 2017 and Miles in May, it was rocky to say the least. There were intense highs and lows but I always knew things would begin to balance out in the new year. Committing to this run is already a big part of this. 

I am so happy that I can do something that not only helps myself but will also help others who are experiencing loss. Grief Encounter is a wonderful charity that I can't wait to be a part of now and in the future. It is a small charity in north London that wants to expand. The money I raise will help children and young adults like myself who have lost a parent or a sibling, giving them access to counselling, and also workshops and outings with others who have suffered similarly. 

From losing both a parent and a sibling in the past two years, I have learnt grief is complex and can affect every facet of your life. Everything changes, every relationship changes, and everything needs time to readjust. You need support, especially when you are young and still figuring out who you are. You need someone who can help untangle your thoughts when everything gets too much, and you also need to be surrounded by people who understand the important distinction between sympathy and empathy. If there is anything you can take from reading this, I ask you one thing: please watch this short two minute video and share it with everyone you love. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw 

Even if you already have a good idea what empathy is, this simple animation is the gentle reminder we all need once in a while. The next time someone you know is upset or down, just remember wounds are often healed by connection, and rarely by advice. Try not to shy away because you think you might say the wrong thing, it is very likely that person just needs you to listen.

In my experience, losing someone you love is like a big ol' train smashing into you. You shatter, and all the pieces fly up in the air. But it is here that you have the opportunity to make something great. This is the opportunity to put yourself back together, and to come out stronger, kinder, and able to love more deeply than you ever could have done before. For this reason, I am grateful for the trains that have smashed into me. I wouldn't know and love life as deeply as I do now.

So here's to Miles and Daddy, thank you for everything you have done for me, and continue to do for me every day. As I piece myself back together, I'm making sure there's a big ol’ space for both of you.

Any support however small, be that in money, on the day, or just by taking time to read and acknowledge what I've said or share it with anyone you love - just know it means the world.

Matty x