(Update) On the 20th of March at 11:30pm our beautiful mum was laid to rest. She truly was a fighter but this one proved too difficult. It has become clear the significant impact she had, and continues to have on every single person and the support has been overwhelming. Sleep tight our beautiful mum, Happy Mothers Day.

As many of you may not know, Maria Lawrence, our mum, has been diagnosed with severe pneumonia and has been left hospitalised in a medically induced coma for the forseeable future. There is a chance her organs may recover but it will likely be a very extensive process and for the time being she will remian in intensive care. The news has broken our family transforming our mum who is otherwise the most kind hearted, peaceful and giving woman you could ever wish to meet.

What many of you did know, was that she thrived running her business, 15 hours a day with the hope of “putting smiles on peoples faces.” Alongside this, every year she has been committed to growing her beloved charity. The Derby Secret Santa Scheme has gone from strength to strength, last year giving out 2000+ presents to elderly and vulnerable residents all over the Derby area. She invests her own time, 24/7 for around 6 months of every year, for aboslutly no personal gain with the hope of creating unity and genuine happiness in the communities she is a part of. This year she had hopes the scheme will be larger than ever, growing yet again and potentially having an even larger impact on the people that truly deserve it.

As you can imagine for me, working a full time job and my brother being a full time student, it is extremely difficult to pickup where this incredible woman left off. We take time everyday in an attempt to maintain her business not only to make her proud, but to keep a roof over her head for when shes better. Being the dedicated worker she is, it is likely that she will try to rush off her feet as soon as she is out of the hospital, but it is going to take time. The reality of the situation is that bills, taxes and rent do not have time and even if they are pushed back, will likely mount to an unachievable goal upon her return, hindering her long-term recovery.

This is where I regretfully turn to you... As such a proud woman this is the absolute last thing she would’ve wanted. But, I am asking from the deepest point of my heart for any donation, big or small with the intention of giving a better life for our mum, on her long road to recovery. Not only will this mean she can recover in her own time without the uneccesary worry of looming bills, but it also means as a community we can give back to someone who is genuinely so selfless, kind, caring, helpful and loving.

In already grave times it is the strength of the communities we are a part of that helps us pull through, and I am praying our communities come together to help our mum...

Regards,

Dan & Benn x