42km for the Children We Were: The Story Behind the Challenge

Some stories don’t end when the trauma stops; they live on in the ways we choose to support others.

In 2005, when Alex was just seven and her brother four, their world was shattered. Their father, who had struggled privately with his mental health for most of his life, took his own life. In a single devastating moment, Alex’s mother, her brother, and Alex herself weren’t just grieving; they were hollowed out.

Because this tragedy happened within the family home, they lost their sanctuary along with their father on the very same evening. Displaced by a trauma no child should ever witness, let alone live through, they were briefly left homeless.

The Long Road to Healing

While the love of family and friends was a vital lifeline, the path to healing was anything but linear. Alex’s brother received counselling through the NHS, but for many children in these devastating situations, getting the "right" support isn’t a guarantee; it is often a matter of chance.

Why We Are Walking

This July, Alex and her fiancé, Andrew, are walking 42 kilometres across the rugged Gower Peninsula. They are taking on this challenge to turn a personal tragedy into a source of support for others.

We are raising funds for Child Bereavement UK to ensure that when a child’s life is turned upside down, they aren’t left to navigate the wreckage alone. This charity does incredible work supporting not only children grieving a parent but also parents facing the unbearable grief of losing a child.

Your Impact

42 kilometres of coastal paths and steep sand dunes is a gruelling physical challenge, but it is nothing compared to the mountain a child must climb after losing a parent to suicide.

By supporting us, you are providing the resources, training, and listening ears that make the impossible feel manageable for families in crisis. Please, if you can, donate to help us reach our target. Every penny goes toward giving a grieving child or a heartbroken parent the professional guidance they need to find their way forward.