Last year, in May 2021 during our wedding week we tragically and suddenly lost our dear brother Shyam. Shyam was a beautiful person, with the kindest heart and purest smile. He was loved by everyone he met and his presence is dearly missed.

Our Hindu wedding was scheduled 7 days after our life changed forever, the 22nd May 2021. This was our invisible wedding, but we want to mark it with a marriage that represents something greater than us. Arti & I began our married life in the darkest place and in very difficult circumstances. 

Each year we will mark our marriage in the most positive way, by raising money for charities and causes which are valuable. We’ll begin with Make-a-Wish UK a charity that Arti is a wish maker for, a beautiful charity which supports families creating lifelong memories which live on. It’s a charity we had raised funds for during the pandemic in 2020 due to the challenges they faced, and is close to our hearts. We know Shyam’s blessings and wishes are with us, he supported charitable causes throughout his life and shares the values of Make-a-wish. 

Our wedding fund will be used to deliver change in ways we believe and so we will match every pound raised and double the total. This October we’re running the Leicester Half Marathon, as a symbol of how we’d like to commemorate our first wedding anniversary, this year and every year.

Make-A-Wish® UK creates life-changing wishes that revive the childhood that critical illness takes away, bringing light and joy at the darkest of times for a child and their loved ones. But right now, there are 60,000 children in the UK living with a critical condition, and they don’t have the resources to be that light for everyone. Your generous support will help them step closer to achieving their vision: to grant a wish to every eligible child. Together, we have the power to light up the darkness.