Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

This (pic) is Theo, he's my youngest son and aged 9 (now). He was just 6 years old when we lost his grandad (my dad) in May 2015, his nanna (my grandmother) in July 2015, and the Uncle Trevor (my uncle) in December 2015. The deaths of three of his close relatives in 8 months were a lot for him to cope with, and quite frankly he didn't. He was inconsolable almost every night for months, and we began to despair of what we could do to help get over any of this. Finally we discovered the Newark Children's Bereavement Centre. There was a short wait, but once Theo started therapy sessions with them, he slowly but surely  improved. I'm delighted to report that he's now a happy boy with just the occasional 'down' when memories of that year come back too vividly. But thanks to the help he received, he has coping strategies he can use.

The Bereavement Centre is there for children from all walks of life and never turns anyone away on the grounds of affordability. It offers help to children who are bereaved due to the deaths of loved ones, but also who've suffered equivalent loss due to divorce, separation or geographical displacement. Due to cut backs they are increasingly dependent on charitable causes to continue their vital work.

Here's the money bit...I am trying to raise money for the charity by running the Great North Run (half marathon) in September. This is not a charity place (I've paid entirely for the entry, travel, accommodation etc.) so I don't have to raise any minimum amount.

Two weeks after the GNR (and hopefully injury free), I will then be doing the Nottingham (Robin Hood) half marathon, also for the same great cause. (This time I do have an official charity place.)

Therefore if you can spare any amount (even a couple of quid) to sponsor me I would be hugely grateful. If you decide you can help, and you are a UK taxpayer, please do Gift Aid so the charity gets an extra 25%. I realise that these days we all get multiple requests to donate for worthy causes, and please don't worry if you are a friend of mine who decides "this one is not for me"; equally if raising money for this cause does tick a box for you, then thanks in adavance.

All the best,

JVT

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