Our son Aidan would be 30 on the 16th of September. He was a little shy and very kind, thoughtful, funny with a passion for knowledge, a need to make sense of the universe and of life.  On the 27th July 2013 he died from a heroin overdose.  I can't describe how lonely the world became on that day.

He was on his way to being free from addiction, it took an amazing amount of strength to do that.  I wouldn't have had that strength. 

Someone you love, someone in your family will use illegal drugs, some will become addicted.  Your child doesn't need a criminal record, they don't need to struggle alone with addiction because they're afraid or ashamed and they don't need to die. 

Anyone's Child is an network of families campaigning for better control of drugs. Today a child, with a mobile phone and enough cash, can have cocaine delivered to their home, but they can't buy a beer or cigarettes. Regulation controls the sale of cigarettes and alcohol.  Regulation saves lives. 

You can read Aidan's story here www.anyoneschild.org/penny/

Aidan was born on the 16th September 1987 and died on the 27th July 2013. On the 16th September this year we are going to walk 30 miles, one mile for each of years that he was with us as well as the ones that he should have had.  We are also asking that people perhaps walk a mile on a year that has meaning for them.  We would be grateful if you could make a donation to Transform, or that you go the Anyone's Child site and read Aidan's story and the stories of the other parents and children.

Thank you for taking time to read this.

Penny and Paddy