Raised: 112%
Target: £4,000.00
Raised so far: £4,460.33
Donate now

My story

 

My sister has asked me to help her with her fundraising page.

Mandi and my brother in law Nigel started running not long after my husband Matthew’s death. I guess it was a release. A place where they could think and attempt to comprehend what had happened. Mandi decided that one day she would like to take part in the Great North Run and set her heart on running in the honour of Matthew. Many miles of training, many blisters and new pairs of trainers later, this year on the 20th of September they will be there!

 

http://www.greatrun.org/Events/Event.aspx?id=1

 

Well…here goes! This is my bit. I’m not very good at running! Oh where do I start?

I know Mandi really wanted me to dedicate this page to Matthew. Do I start right at the beginning when we first met just 16 years of age and inseparable by the age of 17? Or do I start with the last day I saw my best buddy alive?

We had a lovely dinner, set our baby boy down to sleep and then snuggled up to watch the latest episode of Lost on TV. At 9:00pm he left on his motorbike to meet up with his pals in Reading before heading off on his adventure to France to watch the World Superbike event. However, through no fault of his own he never met up with his pals that night…

On the 6th of October 2006 everyone who had ever met him had to come to terms with a life without him.

Just an ordinary person driving home took my husbands life…

 

http://www.reducingroadcasualties.com/top1/Home.asp?top=1&sid=1&tid=1&mid=186

 

Every time I am out driving with my three year old son in the car I encounter people driving along in their own world. They have to get somewhere apparently fast for whatever reason and have no time to indicate or think about anyone else. Could they ever imagine how it would affect them if they took a persons life? Let alone imagine just how many people are affected by the sudden loss of a loved one.

At 2:00am in the morning I was woken by a knock at the door. It is as if the policemen and their car on the road have been etched onto the glass of my window. Even now I can sometimes see them standing there. I will never forget their care and support from that first encounter to the day in court some eight months later when the driver was finally charged with Causing Death by Dangerous Driving.

Although I was surrounded by amazing people, family and wonderful friends, there were times when I felt I needed to give them the space they needed to grieve and then I discovered The WAY Foundation. The support of others who knew exactly how I was feeling was just what I needed at that time. Founded in 1997 WAY offers a self-help network for members across the UK. Enabling us to share our unique understanding of being widowed young.

 

http://www.wayfoundation.org.uk

 

WAY needs your help supporting widowed people. With your help we can raise their profile and do more for thousands of people every year. WAY receives no government funding and is entirely volunteer-led.

Even though it is run by volunteers, they need funds to run their website, print promotional materials and publicise the work they do. It also costs money to train volunteers who respond to newly-bereaved members. PLEASE sponsor now! Every penny we can raise for WAY will be greatly appreciated and we look forward to updating you on our progress.

Thank you so much for reading this page today. If there is anyone out there that you think may benefit from being a member of WAY please pass on all the details. Or if anyone would rather get in touch with me you can email me at: maxandjo@hotmail.co.uk

I write this page as a tribute and big thank you to my sister! Through the highs and the lows, the lows and the highs and the really horrid twisty roundy bits, Mandi has been there supporting me in any way she can. I know that there have been times when she has felt there is nothing she can do. And despite her own feelings of despair she has been there for us putting on a brave and often silly face. I am sorry for all the times I have frowned and growled at her for being naughty and teaching my son bad habits and the word snot!

People, not stuff, become so important when you go through such a shocking experience. And eventually when the pain moves on to a slightly different kind of ache, you feel so proud to have ever known the person that you have lost. That you realise they are not lost at all. And can feel them very close by and feel safe in the knowledge that they are indeed watching over you and love you as much as they ever did. If we never experience the pain and sadness of loss then how can we truly appreciate the pure joy that is love and life?

Joanna T

Good luck Mandi and Nigel!! And thank you so much for running to raise money for the WAY Foundation. We are all so proud of you. Matthew will be with you and indeed all of us in WAY and those who have sponsored you will be cheering you on! x

 

Great cause Donation by Sylvia Fothergill 09/12/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done! Donation by Rushden Town Band 20/11/09  

£70.00 + £19.74 Gift Aid

Well done you two! Donation by Maggie and friends 16/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done! Donation by Barrascuba 16/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Well done Amanda & Nigel sorry for the late donation Donation by SANDRA BOLTON ( PAUL MORGAN SISTER IN LAW ) 14/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

I was very moved by your sister's story, we too lost a friend the same way makes you realise how precious life is. Congrats on completing your run. Donation by Victoria Harhoff (from Pilates) 07/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Helen Rust 04/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done! Donation by The Higham Churchers! 28/09/09  

£55.00 + £15.51 Gift Aid

well done. Donation by annette parker 24/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

congratulations to both of you for your dedication and energy in raising funds for a worthy cause. Donation by Brian Norrey 21/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Malcolm Waite 21/09/09  

Support all the way from Melbourne Australia! Donation by Bonita and Leigh Vinton and family 20/09/09  

£10.00

Donation by D Cumbleton 20/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by M Walton 20/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by I Walton 20/09/09  

£3.00 + £0.85 Gift Aid

Donation by I Pugh 20/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by J Pugh 20/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done on completing the run. Apologies for the late donation. Maff will always be in our hearts. x Donation by Jay, Kim, Ben & Holly 20/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

I'm looking out for carrot tops & rabbit ears!!! Good luck to both of you. Donation by Jonathan Hunter 20/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

good luck Donation by keith symonds 19/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Amanda & Nigel for Sunday! Reading your sister's sad story has really moved me. I promise I won't make you work hard at Pilates on Weds! X Donation by Liz Reid 18/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Matty T..still missed!!! Lots of love to Max XX Donation by Stuart, Debbie & Nathan 15/09/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Donation by Darren and Carey 15/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck guys, i'll be thinking of you whilst sat at home with a few beers on my unfit backside...!! Donation by darren thomas 14/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck - Have a good run! Donation by Kevin Brown 12/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best wishes for the run Mandi and Nigel Donation by John Burgon 11/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck for next weekend guys! Have fun and will be thinking of you all! Lots of Love Jolene, Gary, Katie & Gemma xxx Donation by Jolene Skellett 11/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Run Rabbit run ! Donation by Ady 10/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Enjoy the run. Well done raising so much dosh. Donation by philip wimpenny 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Run Rabbit Run...good luck love from Lynne and family....Dog and Horse and Chucks..xxxxx Donation by Antony and Lynne Wilkins 08/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £4,365.33
  Offline donations: £95.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £1,030.99

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.