I am going to start this page by sharing my story. As a very private individual, this has not been easy for me to do, but I feel it important to explain the driving force behind me establishing “Paul’s Gift” and raising funds in the name of my son.

Losing a child has given me membership of an exclusive club that nobody ever wants to be a member of, and unfortunately it has impacted me in ways that nobody outside of this club really understands. Friends have tried to understand, but for many, particularly those with children of their own, it has been easier to not think about it, shut me out and disappear out of my life. Whilst upsetting, I can understand their reasons. Others draw comparisons with their experience of losing a parent, spouse or other family member, but as tragic as those events are, the reality is that nature plays a cruel trick and makes the unnatural occurrence of losing your own child a far greater burden.

I am a very different person than the one I was 14 years ago when my son Paul was killed in a car accident. Most people would not know that I am so different, as on a daily basis I probably do a reasonable job of playing the role of the same the person that I used to be. But behind the façade is a different person. Many simple things that other people take for granted (as did the old me) are no longer easy for me. As well as finding myself angry for much of the time, things like socialising, having normal relationships with friends & family, doing anything new or different, and sometimes even getting out of bed in the morning, can now be major hurdles to be overcome. But in trying to adopt a “glass half full” positive attitude, I continually strive to find ways to adapt to manage the challenges that I face.

I was once told that nobody actually “gets over” losing a child, but some find a way to cope with the situation. It has taken me 14 years to get to the stage where I feel ready to do something positive in my son’s name, and in doing so, hopefully take a major step forward in finding a way to cope with the impact that his death has had on my life.

Paul was 19 years old when he died and was lucky to have enjoyed a very fulfilling childhood. Unfortunately, there are many children all over the world who will never share any of the privileges that Paul enjoyed. Whilst I can’t help all of them, I do intend to use the funds raised under “Paul’s Gift” to provide life changing help to a small number of these under privileged children.

The cause that I have chosen to support is the provision of education for young children in Jamaica at the Risen Messiah Early Childhood Institute in Negril. This small school, run by a very caring and dedicated team of teachers and staff, caters for around 60 children aged 2-6 years, including those with special needs and other difficulties. The school is financed entirely by charitable donations, together with the modest fees paid by parents, which amount to around £60 per term. Regrettably, in this very poor area, many parents cannot afford the fees, and as a result many children are denied the chance of a basic education.

Myself and John have visited the school a number of times over recent years during our visits to Jamaica, and together with a small group of friends from the UK, USA and Canada, we have supported the school by providing basic supplies. On our most recent visit, with the help of Couples Resorts, our small group raised an amazing £1500 to fund a commercial stove for the school, allowing the children to be provided with a basic hot meal every day. With "Paul's Gift", I intend to extend the support a stage further by paying the school fees for those parents that cannot afford to pay, creating a potentially life changing opportunity for a small number of additional children.

To draw attention to the cause and encourage initial donations, John and I are planning to cycle the famous Majorca 312 cycle sportive on 25th April 2020, and we have now embarked on a 6 month training programme in preparation. The Majorca 312 involves cycling 312km (194 miles) around Majorca, taking in around 16,000ft of climbing on the roads through the island’s Tramuntana mountains. The event has to be completed within a 14 hour time limit - which is a very demanding day on the bike!

Thank you for reading this. The funds that I am raising will make a life changing difference to these children in Negril. The simple act of making any donation, however large or small, will also show your support for helping me on my journey, and will mean more to me than you could ever know.

Michaela x