On Saturday the 14th September 2024 it will be the 9th Anniversary of my Grandad’s death. His anniversary coincides with an opportunity to support the 35th anniversary of the Edwards trust.

Edward's Trust provides qualified counselling and holistic support for complex or prolonged grief. They do not set time limits and the service is completely free.

The starting point for an organisation’s story is rarely the point at which it begins. Edward’s Trust officially became a registered charity on 10th March 1989 but the idea of establishing a charity to support families who have children with life threatening illnesses goes back almost to when Edward was first diagnosed with a Wilm’s Tumour, a rare form of cancer, back in August 1987.

Edward Dent was just seven and a half years old when he died on 29 July 1988. He was ‘Just an ordinary boy with an extraordinary amount of courage’ – a quiet boy, a pupil at Knowle Infants School, Solihull, where he was probably more studious than most and enjoyed reading. Edward’s name lives on as a registered charity, raising money and helping parents who are forced to live through a similar nightmare.

I will be doing the Sky Dive in my Grandad’s memory, we were close. He was clever, kind and very funny, a huge influence and inspiration to myself and my family.

I know he often put others before himself and helped many of his family, friends and colleagues work through the toughest of challenges. He made a difference to many people’s lives.

Edwards trust do that too and I want to continue Grandad’s strong legacy and support this brilliant charity. We all manage grief and trauma in different ways, my family have experienced the difference specialist bereavement support makes, so I want to help.

The 14th September will be an emotional day for all the Sky Divers as we remember loved ones and raise essential funds to support the brilliant work of Edwards Trust.

Any donation large or small will make a difference, thank you. Love you Grandad x

Thank You Edwards Trust for all that you do.