I lost my partner, Stephen, to cancer in May. After he died I found a birthday card I’d given him a few years earlier that joked, ‘Let’s grow old together… you go first.’ Well, he was just a smidgen older than me… 😉 Inside I’d added a sentimental side note to the effect that I really did want us to grow old together. Stephen’s cancer diagnosis came so unexpectedly, and progressed so quickly, that we had no time to contemplate the loss of the future we’d assumed we’d have together. We were too busy hoping for a miracle. It’s taken months for it to really begin to sink in that I won’t see him ever again, and consider how I might rebuild my life without him by my side. Thankfully, I found WAY; Widowed and Young. As well as practical advice and guidance, the kindness, compassion and unspoken understanding of this support network has already been invaluable. As they say when you join, ‘We’re sorry you’re eligible to join but we’re glad you found us.’ 

I’m so grateful for their support that I’m taking part in the London Winter Walk on 28th January 2023, and walking 26 miles (a marathon distance), to raise money to support the work they do. If you feel able to contribute anything at all it will really help motivate me past the first snack stop on the day… 😜 😊

More info about WAY: 

‘The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that around 23,000 people aged between 19 and 50 die each year - leaving thousands of people widowed at a young age. We want every one who has been widowed young to be able to find our support. Please help WAY raise these vital funds so they can continue to support young widowed people across the UK become members of this friendly peer-to-peer charity. Knowing others in a similar situation who 'get it' is such an invaluable gift.’