WINSTON'S WISH (A GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN)

Before we had the chance to grow up, we had already learnt what it felt like to lose both of our parents.

If only Winston’s Wish had been around in the 80s. Winston’s Wish gives children comfort and a safe space when they need it most, they are a national charity supporting children and young people across the UK who are bereaved, or are facing the death of someone important. No child should have to deal with grief alone.

Taking on 26.2 miles in the TCS London Marathon is pushing me well outside my comfort zone, but I’m doing it for a cause close to my heart, and in memory of my three brothers, whose strength will carry me through every mile!

Thank you for donating; gofundme sends all your donations directly to the charity.

Samantha x

In 2026, I’m taking on three running challenges again; 10k winter run, the London half, the royal parks half— and I should probably clarify something.

I am not a natural runner.

I don’t glide.

I don’t “love the burn.”

And I have never once described a long run as “fun.”

But I do believe in purpose.

This year, I’ll once again be raising money for Winston’s Wish, a charity supporting children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.

In the UK, it’s estimated that around one child in every classroom will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 16. That’s not a rare tragedy. That’s everyday reality for many families.

As a mother of three boys who lost their father when they were very young, I know that statistic is not theoretical. I’ve seen how grief sits in a home. How it shows up in different ways. How resilience isn’t automatic — it needs support.

Winston’s Wish provides that support. Practical guidance. Specialist bereavement counselling. Safe spaces for children to process loss properly, not bury it.

So I run.

Not because I’m built for it.

Not because I enjoy every mile.

But because discomfort for a few hours is nothing compared to what some children are learning to carry.

There will be heavy legs. There will be mornings when the trainers feel particularly offensive. But every session is a reminder that this is bigger than me.

Three challenges. Again.

A slightly reluctant runner.

A very clear purpose.

If you’d like to support the fundraising, share the message, or even jog a mile alongside me — I’d be hugely grateful.

#strongertogether

#kiakaha

This year, our Aspire pupils are proudly supporting Winston’s Wish Charity by putting their creativity and kindness into action. They have been busy designing and making beautiful Christmas items to sell at our school Christmas Market, including festive cards and hand-crafted decorations, with every penny raised going directly to the charity. We are also encouraging students, staff, and parent carers to join in the festive spirit by wearing a Christmas jumper on the 19th during the market, with a suggested donation of £2. Together, we hope to raise funds and awareness for an incredible organisation that provides vital support to children and young people experiencing grief. Your generosity will help bring comfort, hope, and brighter futures — thank you for supporting our cause.

Running for Bereaved Children – In Memory of My Dad

Hi, I’m Sam, and I’m raising money for Winston’s Wish, a charity that supports bereaved children. 

I know firsthand how hard it is to grow up without a parent. My dad died in 2016 when I was just 8 years old, and it changed my life forever. Grief is incredibly tough, especially for children who may not fully understand what they’re feeling or how to cope. That’s why I’m passionate about supporting this charity—because no child should have to face loss alone. 

I’m running a marathon in my own time (on the 17th August 2025) to help raise money and awareness. I’ll be taking on the distance locally, pushing myself both mentally and physically. This challenge is my way of honouring my dad and remembering the times we shared together, while also making a difference for other bereaved children.

Winstons Wish provides vital resources like counselling, group support, and safe spaces for children to express their grief. They help young people find comfort, connection, and hope, just when they need it most. Here is the link to the website if you would like to find out more: Winston's Wish - Bereavement Support for Children

Every donation, no matter the size, helps give these children the support they deserve. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world.

Thank you for reading my story and for any support you can give.

Cheers, 

Sam

Hey!! I’m Jordan!! This is the second year I’m doing another fitness challenge in memory of my little Sister❤️

Last year we took on the 18,000 calories challenge on the Bikes as a team!!

This year I’m tackling a solo challenge!! To celebrate Alicia’s 19th Birthday

SkiErg 1900m

Bike 1900m

Rowing Machine 1900m

19 times

Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money to benefit Winstons Wish, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Winstons Wish: Supporting bereaved children and their families

In December 2024, we lost our dear colleague and friend Luke Saltmarsh. His Passing was sudden and has left us with a hole in our hearts. Luke started at Brith Services in January 2024, doing his level 2 Plumbing and Heating apprenticeship. Luke's work was valued by all of us and there's no doubt he would have achieved whatever he set out to do, but beyond his work, Luke was a friend. Luke was kind, funny, and had the ability to make the toughest days feel a bit easier. We really feel the loss without him here.

On the 15th of august we will be walking to honor Luke's life, and to raise money for Winston's Wish, a UK Charity that supports bereaved children and young people who have lost a parent or sibling. Luke was only 19 when he passed, so this cause is especially close to our hearts as it offers support to the young people in his life affected by his passing.

Any amount donated will be massively appreciated. Please share this page with others who knew and loved Luke, and together we can continue to celebrate his life and help those grieving.

Waltons Walk Lake Circular

On August 9, I’ll be running my 27th marathon through the peaceful coastal paths of Par, Cornwall. This week’s cause is tender—child bereavement. I’m running in support of Winston’s Wish, a charity that helps children and young people rebuild their lives after the heartbreaking loss of a parent or sibling. This run is for every child learning how to carry grief before they’ve even learned how to live.

The What:

Child bereavement is a devastating reality that changes everything in a young life. Losing a parent, sibling, or caregiver isn’t something children “get over.” Grief in childhood can be silent and invisible, often expressed through anxiety, anger, withdrawal, or confusion. Without the right support, that pain doesn’t fade—it grows with them, shaping how they trust, cope, and connect with the world. It’s not just about mourning a loved one; it’s about surviving the emotional fallout of losing your whole world too soon.

The Why:

Because no child should have to face grief alone. Grief isolates—but with the right support, it can also be met with hope. I’m running this marathon to shine a light on the children who carry heavy hearts, and to raise the funds needed to help them find comfort, healing, and a future worth holding onto.

What is Winston’s Wish and What Do They Do?

Winston’s Wish is the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity, providing specialist support to children, young people, and families coping with the death of a loved one. Their work includes therapeutic services, one-on-one grief counselling, group sessions, a national helpline, and practical resources for schools and caregivers. They help children process loss, express their emotions safely, and rebuild confidence in the face of unimaginable pain.

Every donation brings a grieving child closer to healing:

• £10 provides a memory box to help a child process their loss.

• £25 funds a call to the helpline for a parent unsure how to support their child.

• £50 gives a child a tailored grief support session with a specialist practitioner.

• £100 supports a group workshop where children can meet others who understand their pain.

As I complete Marathon 27 in Par, I want to remember grief doesn’t disappear—but with love, support, and understanding, it becomes something children can carry with strength. Please donate to Winston’s Wish.

In April me, Keturah and Daisy will be taking on the three peaks (Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis) to raise money for Winston’s Wish.

“Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief.”

In 2015 we were one of those families whose world was turned upside down when me and my sister lost our dad suddenly.

At that time there wasn’t the funding for children, teenagers & young adults in our area to receive support from Winston’s Wish. Despite the limitations placed on Winston’s Wish, they still gave my mum the vital support she needed to help her to feel held.

When the world around her was spiralling Winston’s Wish offered her the support that helped her find her feet so she could hold our space, as best as she could. Their words and the time they gave her was invaluable.

It is a charity she continues to share with any family who have experienced the same. They were a lifeline in the early days of grief.

1 in 20 children lose a parent by the age of 16. Grief is lonely, yet is something experienced by us all at some point in our lives; the community created by Winston’s Wish helps to lift the loneliness, they offer the opportunity & space for children, young people & their adults to not feel so alone.

We are raising money so that more young people can receive the support that they need at a time when the world feels like such an uncertain place.

I’ve chosen 2025 to push myself into very uncomfortable situations involving exercise… a foreign concept for me as many of you will know. I’ll be running the London winter 10k this Sunday (23rdFeb) and hopefully, the London landmarks half marathon on the 6th April.

I’m doing this to support the amazing Charity Winston’s wish that helped my three sons four years ago when their father Simon died suddenly. Life didn’t make sense to any of us never mind a 7, an 8 or an 11 year old.

The grief that young children feel is just so incredibly difficult to deal with through a fog of your own grief never mind the real life problems of work/money/probate.

Simon’s passing was incredibly sudden so shock also was a big factor to reconcile. The charity could not take away any of this pain but they could support the boys through play and books that just made tiny little differences.

These tiny little differences keep adding up to make a hellish situation a little more bearable. I personally can’t thank them enough for their simple interactions at that time.

I’m running this year to try to fund some other tiny little differences to other kids whose parent dies much too early. Exercise like this is so out of my comfort zone it is untrue. There will be no records broken but if I can help even one other child, this pain is temporary and manageable.

If you can spare any money at all I’m sure there are some little people who will thank you in the future. In the meantime, you can laugh at my expense and imagine the swear words!!

#kiakaha

#strongertogether

Winston’s Wish provides free digital bereavement information and support for children and young people across the UK who are grieving the death of someone important to them.

Helping over 80,000 bereaved children and young people across the UK every year, by providing the following:

• Providing online access to useful information, resources and publications to help educate and inform about grief

• Instant online support from a Bereavement Support Worker. Our team offer real time support over the phone, on live chat or via email between the hours of 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. There’s no need to book an appointment and no wait lists.

• Facilitating peer support groups and one-to-one individual session.

They're the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity and have been leading the way in young people’s grief support since 1992.

To help raise much needed funds Oliver will be completing a kickerthon on 29th March, aiming to total a 1000 kicks.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause.

This year, on my 19th birthday (16/03/25), I’ll be taking on the challenge of a Tandem Skydive to raise funds for Winston’s Wish, a charity that has supported countless young people coping with grief. After losing both my Mother and Grandmother within just 11 months of each other, the pain of loss became a reality I had to face far too soon.

Winston’s Wish provides crucial emotional and practical support to children and young people navigating life after the death of a loved one. From offering professional guidance to creating resources that help children feel less alone, their work makes an incredible difference to families in their darkest times. This skydive is not only a personal milestone for me but also a way to give back to a charity that helps so many who are struggling like myself.

Any donation, big or small, will go towards ensuring they can continue their life-changing work. Thank you for your support!