Lausanne Semi Marathon for my favourite causes
Mike, my husband, died far too young, in April 2017, surrounded by the love and care of exceptional people at the end of life hospice, La Maison de Tara, in Geneva.
His loss was too great for Julia, my youngest child, who took her life on 30 June 2019. I miss them both desperately. Many of us, many of you, also miss them.
In October each year, Mike and I celebrated our "first date" which was on 21 October 1987. He died just a few months before what would have been our 30th "anniversary of being together".
One way we celebrated our anniversary was by doing the Lausanne Semi-Marathon. We did it many times in the years before he died, and I have done it each October since. It's so hard and I usually cry at the end. I want to commemorate him, us, our love, again this year for what would be our 32 years together.
I also want to commemorate Julia and find ways to support groups who provide help for families grieving the loss of a child.
Now there have been so many losses I don't know who to raise money for, so I am giving you a choice of supporting one of three organisations:
La Maison de Tara, the hospice (website for more info: https://lamaisondetara.ch/ )
The Compassionate Friends which provides support for bereaved parents and families who've experienced the loss of a child (website for more info: https://www.tcf.org.uk/ )
Or Soaring Spirits, a brilliant organisation supporting Widowed people (website for more info: https://www.soaringspirits.org/ )
I wish I didn't know so many amazing and vital organisations working with the dying, end of life, grief, widowhood, suicide... but I do. And I want to support them. They help me keep moving one foot in front of the other. They help me keep breathing.
Feel free to donate, either "generically" and I will divide the money later, or else "specifically" saying where you would like the money to go. For Soaring Spirits and The Compassionate Friends you can donate directly on their websites if you wish. It's self-explanatory. Please connect your donation to my name.
Thank you for your ongoing support, love & generosity.
Emma, Ben, Megan, Mike & Julia