Update 27th June 2009.

Tomorrow will be the second anniversary since Dan's death. It's so difficult to think it's 24 months since Lyeanda and I saw and spoke with him.

It seems almost surreal when huge world events occur (and there have been a few since Dan left us) and he's just not here to discuss them with. I find myself thinking 'I wonder what Dan would have said about that', I miss him so much for this and so many many more reasons.

This year Lyeanda organised a bench in Dan's memory at St Michael Cornhill, the church where we married, and of course where we said our last goodbye. The garden is open during the week but if you'd like to visit at the weekend give me a bell, I have a key. It's a wonderful place to sit and think about him, especially at weekend when the city is calm, the place he loved so much for it's hustle and bustle but also for it's beauty when all is quiet.

Last month Gordon married Clare and I was so pleased to be invited to Ravello to help celebrate. It was so sad and strange for him not to be there but Gordon and I both felt his spirit around us, after all he would hate to have missed out on such a lovely, posh wedding. Zola staying at the hotel would have put the top hat on it!

Life is moving on for many people which is wonderful. The news of Francois' engagment, the eternal batchelor, is fabulous and Dan would have been amazed and no doubt have pulled his leg! He would also be thrilled about all the things happening in many of our other freinds lifes', Simon, Vicky, Zoe and Tom, Simon and Liz. So much has happened in this short time.

Well I'm going to sign off now but wanted to say thanks to you all for chatting with me about Dan. You all help to keep his memory alive and in that way he will never die.

And finally an especially big thank you to Lyeanda who has been such a fantastic Mum-in-law. The love and caring she has shown me has been without bounds and I'm truly grateful.

With love

Sandra x

PS HSBC raised a huge sum of money over 12 months which was fabulous. As yet I don't have the full total.

At present there are no further events in the pipeline but the site is open for a few more months so keep your eyes posted!

x

Over a year has now passed since Dan sadly died in his sleep on 28th June 2007 at the age of 32. He died peacefully, Lyeanda and I believe he would have known nothing about that night as he had fallen into a hypoglycaemic coma. His blood sugar fell too low and his body was unable to kick in to wake him up.

Despite our total sadness at losing the most precious, loved person in our life his Mum and I refuse to be angry. He relished life and lived it to the full. He was a great character which was partially formed by the challenges he had to face, challenges he simply dealt with. He refused to use his diabetes as an excuse for anything, it was just something he had to live with but never a barrier to enjoying what he was given, an ethos we should all try to learn from.

Something Dan desperately wanted to do was to nurture a child, to give the gift of love to someone in need, we were looking into adoption when he died. It therefore seems fitting that his Mum and I have chosen to raise money in his name for The Juvenile Diabetes Research foundation. They carry out research into finding a cure for diabetes primarily in young people, although their work will ultimately benefit all diabetics.

The support we have received to date (in terms of doing and giving) has been fantastic and I think you'll agree the amount we've raised to date is amazing. My colleagues in Cumbria started our efforts with a walk which was closely followed by Al Gillespie, one of Dan's close friends who ran the Henley half marathon in his name.
 
We're thrilled that the graduates at HSBC enjoyed working with Dan so much that to mark their respect they have decided to set up a Graduate Charity Forum. Each year they will select a charity to champion, for the first year they will host events to raise monies for JDRF in Dan's memory. To date they've held a Pub Quiz which I understand was very successful. The next events are to be announced.

My neice, Laura Hutchinson, made me very proud last week as she organised a 'wear what you want day' at her school, St Ursula's in Bristol. The children could wear their own choice of fashion instead of school uniform of which, since he was a doyen of fashion, Dan would have throughly approved! They raised £100 which was fantastic.
 
In July one of Lyeanda's friends, Ray Smyth and his pal Michael Warner, ran 32 miles (Dan's age) of the Basingstoke canal. This was a huge challenge and such a wonderful accolade to Dan who met Ray many years ago. 
 
They have raised a huge amount of money, despite running in QPR shirts!(you will all know that QPR and football, were one of Dan's great passions) . The final total is still not yet in, and we thank the both very much for embarking on such a huge challenge. We've just heard that their pics, and mine and Lyeanda's will be in one of the match programmes this season!
 
Finally I'm sure you're all waiting to hear what I'll be doing to add to the wonderful fund raising efforts. Simon, one of Dan's best men suggested we run the London marathon but I think this may be a little beyond my capabilities. I know Dan would say I'm more suited to a sponsored pub crawl!
 
Seriously I do plan to set myself a serious challenge so watch this space.

I'm starting with a small event to ease myself in. My family and friends will join me in September to take part in the 5mile walk. All are welcome to join 'The Black Swans. My nephews, George & James, are taking part in the run under the name the Bestie Boys. We just hope it doesn't rain!
 
I know that many of you will have already donated and none of us have bottomless pockets. However, this is a truly good cause and diabetes is something for which we must find a cure since more people every year have to live (and die) with this condition.
 
Please dig deep and help us to reach our target, donations big and small are all the same, they're all wonderful.
 
Many thanks
With love
 
Sandra and Lyeanda