<div>Hi, my name is Rob and I wanted to share Dan's story.
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<div>On 8 September, our family received the news that no parent ever expects to hear. Our beautiful daughter Erika died suddenly and unexpectedly at just 35 years old.
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<div>That morning, Erika had got up as usual and set off for work. She became unwell during her journey and, despite the efforts of those who helped her and the medical teams who cared for her, she sadly died.
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<div>Erika and her husband Dan had built a life together. They both worked, rented a lovely home and, like any young married couple, made plans for their future together.
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<div>In a matter of hours, all of that changed.
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<div>Erika was funny, loving and caring, with an extraordinary creative streak. She was a talented artist who turned that creativity into her career as a video marketing artist. She loved anime and gaming, but most of all she loved simply spending time with Dan and the people she loved.
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<div>Family meant a great deal to Erika, and she had a wonderful relationship with Dan's three nieces, Emily, Alice and Lily.
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<div>One weekend, the girls were trying to do gymnastics. Erika joined in, spending time showing them how to do handstands and some other moves. When Erika and Dan came to see them the following weekend, the girls had been practising. They had put together an entire gymnastics show especially for them.
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<div>It was the sort of thing that happened around Erika. She gave people her time, took an interest in the things that mattered to them, and children in particular responded to her.
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<div>Drawing was another of Erika's great loves. Some years ago, I challenged her to draw Deadpool using just two coloured pencils — red and black. She rose to the challenge, as she always did.
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<div>The finished drawing was given to her nephew Caleb, who adored his Auntie Erika and is a huge Marvel fan. It seems particularly precious now — something made by his aunt's own hand that he can keep for the rest of his life.
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<div>Alongside the unimaginable grief of losing his wife, Dan now faces a very practical and immediate problem.
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<div>Their home and household commitments were based on two incomes. The rent, bills and everyday costs haven't disappeared, but suddenly one of those incomes has.
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<div>As Erika's family, the last thing we want is for Dan to be forced into making major decisions about his home and his future while he is still trying to come to terms with losing his wife.
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<div>We have therefore created this fundraiser simply to give him some breathing space over the coming months — helping towards his rent, household bills and the everyday expenses that continue regardless of what has happened.
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<div>We aren't trying to solve everything for him. We just want to give him some time to grieve and begin working out what his future looks like without an immediate financial crisis sitting alongside everything else.
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<div>All funds raised will go directly to Dan to help with his household and living costs during the months ahead.
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<div>If you knew Erika, know our family, or simply feel able to help, any contribution — however small — would be enormously appreciated. And if you aren't in a position to donate, simply sharing this page would mean just as much to us.
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<div>Thank you for reading this, and thank you to everyone who has already shown our family such extraordinary kindness since we lost Erika.
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<div>Rob, Josee, Monika, Lee, Donna, Liam &amp; Caleb.
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<div>David, Joanne, Andrew, Jenny, Emily, Alice and Lily.
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Tracey Thomas

In Memory of Erika — Helping Dan Through the Months Ahead

In Memory of Erika — Helping Dan Through the Months Ahead

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