On Thursday 5th July 2018 like many other teenagers across the country my son and a group of his teenage friends set off for the NASS festival for what should have been one of the most amazing and memorable weekends of their young lives.

This weekend has certainly turned to be a memorable one, but for a devastating reason instead.

On Friday 6th July on the first day of the festival one of my son's friends, Edward who is only 17 years old, received the news that none of us could ever imagine hearing; that his family home had been burnt down overnight the previous night in a suspected arson attack, and he had lost absolutely everything. His entire family home and all of its contents had been totally gutted by the fire.

Given the devastating effect of the fire on the house, it is fortunate that no one was killed. Edward's elder brother was alone in the house at the time, but thankfully managed to escape the fire suffering from smoke inhalation. Had Edward and their father also been in the house on Thursday night it could have been an entirely different story.

Some other local people have already asked on facebook for donations of clothes, spare bedding etc for the three of them, and these items will be a godsend in these early days as the fire has destroyed absolutely everything.

This has really touched me, and i cant help but think of how it would be if it were my family in the same position. Ive spoken with a couple of Ed's friends who, like my son, all think the world of Ed, and we would really like to go one step further, and raise as much money as we can so that Ed and his family can use it to make a start to rebuild their lives.

We cant ever replace for them the irreplaceable things that have been lost; the photos, and all their treasured possessions that a lifetime of living in that family home have created. But we can let them know that their friends, their local community, and maybe even some strangers want to help them get through this awful time, and whilst they begin to come to terms with their huge loss, giving them a financial helping hand so that they can start to replace the physical things which they will need to set up a new home.

Please give anything you can to help Ed and his family. All donations will go direct to them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and in anticipation of any donation you are able to make. I know i have set an ambitious target to reach, but this will be a drop in the ocean in terms of what will actually be needed to rebuild their home .

Thanks again.