Thanks for taking the time to read my story; I’ll keep it brief. 

I lost my mum in a fatal car accident when I was 6 years old. This devastating event ripped through my whole family. My dad tried his best to support my brother and I but he was dealing with the grief of losing his wife. 

I look back to my childhood and early adult years and see how grief affected every aspect. Some days I was so overwhelmingly sad that I struggled to function. It wasn’t until my late 20’s that I reached out for help to understand why I felt like I did, even with the passing of 20yrs. 

The services that I engaged with changed my life. They helped me to understand how at such a young age, I hadn’t allowed myself to grieve because I didn’t know how to. 

At the time of my mums death, there were no bereavement services available to young children. We were simply left to get on with it, not fully understanding the scale of what had happened and how it would impact our lives forever. 

So this is a cause very close to my heart; On Sept 12th I will be running the Great North Run - 13.1 miles, in aid of Once Upon a Smile, a children’s bereavement charity who provide emotional and practical support to bereaved children and families after the death of a parent or sibling. They work closely with schools and hospices to provide a safe and supportive environment for children to grieve. 

Please dig deep and donate anything you can. 

My black toenails, painful knees and aching back need all the encouragement we can get. 

Thanks for your support.