Our community is coming together to support a devoted father and his two wonderful children after the heartbreaking loss of Janine Burnett (nee Townsend), who passed away from an extremely aggressive cancer at just 51 years old.

After a very short illness Janine leaves behind her husband, Stevo and their two children – 14-year-old Ben and 12-year-old Ella – who are now facing life without the centre of their family. The coming months will be incredibly difficult as they navigate grief while trying to maintain some sense of normal life.

Stevo runs his own small business as a tree surgeon. Normally he works long, physical days to support his family, but for the next couple of years he will need to work only half days so that he can be there for the children – taking them to school, collecting them in the afternoon, and helping them through this incredibly challenging time.

Both children are talented and dedicated ice hockey players. Training sessions and matches each week are something they love and provide an important sense of routine, teamwork and positivity while they cope with losing their mum. However, the cost of equipment, club subscriptions and weekly training quickly adds up.

On top of everything else, the family is now facing funeral costs of more than £5,000, with the service taking place in less than a month.

We are hoping to raise enough funds to help ease the financial pressure over the next two years so that Stevo can focus on what matters most – supporting his children as they grow up without their mum.

The funds raised will help with:

• Funeral costs

• Household expenses while income is reduced

• School and day-to-day costs for the children

• Ice Hockey equipment, club fees and weekly training sessions

Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a real difference to this family at a time when they need support the most. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page with others would mean a great deal.

Thank you for helping this family find some stability and support as they begin to rebuild their lives after such a devastating loss. ❤️