After hearing Sarah speak so inspirationally at a recent charity dinner I was in am desperate to be able to help in some way, and so in August I am racing the London Olympic distance triathlon hoping to raise some money for "The Benjamin Pritchard Foundation"

We are raising money in Ben's name to support families like ours when they need it most. Enhancing bereavement support and services #bemoreben 🌈

Ben was a fit and healthy young boy, with a zest for life and a passion for football. He played for his local team, Portishead Town Sparks, and was a keen supporter of Bristol City FC. On the 7th May 2017, Ben came in from playing in the garden and said he was unable to move his arm properly. After a visit to A&E, we were given the devastating news that Ben had a brain tumour. The following day revealed worse news, his tumour was in an area of his brain called the Pons, the control centre for all bodily functions; mobility, coordination, the ability to swallow, heart rate, breathing... we were told his tumour was inoperable, incurable and at best we would have 10 months to a year with our gorgeous boy.

After a fierce fight, always with a smile on his face and a cracking sense of humour, Ben sadly passed away on the 6th November 2017, just under 6 months from his diagnosis. We were supported by Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), Charlton Farm for the 8 days before Ben’s death up until his funeral. Being at Charlton Farm, with its amazing staff in a beautiful setting meant we were able to just be a family, without worrying about medication, hospital appointments, care needs or chores. We have memories that will last us a lifetime and Ben was very happy there, despite being very unwell.

We are unable to change our circumstances or bring Ben back, but we are able to use our experience to support other families dealing with the loss of a child. Be More Ben provides a support network for families who's child has died. Having someone to talk to who completely understands how it feels to lose a child brought us a great deal of strength and comfort and this is something, unfortunately, we can now offer to other families. No formalities, no pressure, just support and friendship.

We currently host fundraising events which bring together local communities, raise awareness of childhood cancers as well as holding regular coffee mornings and pub nights for bereaved parents. In addition, Be More Ben teams are welcome to participate with any fundraising events organised by CHSW. Contributions from Be More Ben will further enhance the amazing facilities at Charlton Farm, in particular for end of life care.

We are a brand new charity and have very big plans for the future. With your support we are sure we can achieve our goals and provide ongoing support to parents, siblings and families when they need it most. Donations received will help support bereaved families like ours, who never thought for one moment that we would need it.

The Benjamin Pritchard Foundation, also known as Be More Ben, was founded in June 2018. Registered Charity No. 1178933.