On 29th January 2021 many of our hearts were broken when Sarah and Nick’s beautiful and brave little boy Frankie passed away.  He didn't know it yet, but he was my unofficial "nephew" and I was going to squeeze him so tightly and squidge his feet. Sadly we never met. He was such a mighty little man with a powerful will to love and be loved, that we only found out at two and a half months old, that Frankie had an extremely rare and incurable heart defect.

But we must celebrate the fighting spirit of this gorgeous boy. He brought so much light and joy with his beautiful smile and cheeky personality and was so so loved. All he knew was love.

I want to raise money for Demelza hospice, which supports families in the most devastating of times. This will allow them to bring support and comfort to more families who have to deal with the unthinkable situation of losing a child.

Some symmetry for you on the dates: On October 25th, I was running a marathon around New York, knowing that Sarah was in labour with Frankie, and was excited to finish to hear news, and y'know, to finish, wondering who was having a harder time of it (spoiler: Sarah was). I excitedly told friends who referred to Frankie as my "marathon baby". 6 months later exactly, one day before he would have been 6 months old, I run in his memory and in celebration of his fighting spirit.

This won't be easy for many reasons. Add onto all of this that covid is very unforgiving and after having it a couple of months back I will find this physically pretty hard. Still, it could be worse. Angela is giving up wine for 3 months.

Please do donate if you can, even if it's just a couple of bucks or quid! It would mean the world to me, Sarah, Nick, their families and the charity.

In loving memory of Francis Robert Moir Howe 

October 26th 2020 - January 29th 2021 

Frankie

You were born just before sunset:

Our world needed the extra light. 

Blasting a burst of golden rays

To a graying October night, 

While the stars in the sky are just old light,

The spark of your smile was the sweetest sight. 

You outshine the new morning sun, our son. 

You glow with the essence of joy, our boy. 

The delight you donned was iridescent 

So bright, even when your dawn was nascent,

That when you needed most resilience,

Your smile, so mighty, beamed with brilliance. 

Your face, your cheeks, made the world feel divine,

A before, and after, division line. 

Your being eased a crack in everything,

For we all know, that’s how the light gets in,

It radiates to our hearts, like a prism,

Encapsulated there, swelling in rhythm.

Elephants never forget, here we tie a knot,

The rainbow caught inside is a sunny spot,

This forget-me-not of love stays here now,

Fierce and vibrant, refusing to back down. 

We see you, happy and clean in the bath;

A snuggle, a wriggle, a gurgle of laugh;

For better or worse, our Everton fan,

Strong willed, beautiful, mighty little man. 

If love was the measure, you’d be here forever,

Instead you shone brighter and made our world better. 

Frankie, our bright star, loving and steadfast,

Your flame refracts through a universe vast,

It travels light years and forever lasts,

Because: love always makes presence of the past.