This page is about Ben.  Ben's mummy is my good friend, Sarah.

Sarah and I first met at school and we have been friends ever since.  When we were twenty something, Sarah married Shane and I had the honour of being her bridesmaid.  Sarah and Shane went on to have two  children, Freya and Ben.  The rest of our friendship group followed, getting married and having children of their own.  We were in and out of each others lives, as friends often are when caring for young families, working hard and just keeping up with the demands of everyday life.

Everything changed when Ben was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just 7 years old. Within a few days of telling his mummy that he couldn't move his arm after playing football in the garden, Sarah and Shane were given the devastating news that this was a rare and aggressive tumour called DIPG for which there is no cure.  Ben was given only six months to live and died in November 2017.  

Following Ben's death, Sarah and Shane found there was very little ongoing support for families affected by the death of a child so they set up their own charity to fill the gap.  The Benjamin Pritchard Foundation - Be More Ben offers regular, informal opportunities for families to meet with other people who understand what it is like when their child dies. Parents have described the support as "a lifeline" offering "exactly what we needed, when we needed it". In addition, they provide ongoing counselling and complimentary therapies to bereaved parents. 

The Mountain Mission 2023 is set to be an unbelievably rewarding challenge. I am helping to arrange the event (as well as walking in it) and my husband is a mountain leader who has planned the route and will be taking the lead role in this element of the challenge.

The day will incorporate a gruelling full days hike, covering some of the biggest and most beautiful mountains in the breathtaking Lake District. Every penny raised for Be More Ben goes directly to supporting families affected by the death of a child. 

Sarah is an absolute inspiration; as a friend, as a person and as the founder of this charity.  The support provided by Be More Ben really does make a huge difference to families with a child that has died.  Any donation you can give will be so gratefully received and will make a real, tangible difference to the services Be More Ben can offer.  Thank you so much for reading and for your support.