As many of you know, our lives changed forever in December 2021 when James was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease aged 42. As a family, we had to adjust quickly to a new and uncertain reality and ultimately the children lost their beloved father and me a wonderful, loving husband.

At the same time we began our journey at LWC and in joining that wonderful community we could not have known then how significant this school would become for us.

Today, two years after losing James and in the midst of marathon training, I can see more clearly how far we have come. We are in a good place again as a family and much of that is down to the support around us.

Friends, family, and the school community have made all the difference. At LWC my children have been gently supported, never defined by their loss, and encouraged to grow in confidence both in and out of the classroom. That sense of stability and belonging has carried us through and whilst our loss is indelibly marked on our lives we can look back on these years with happiness despite everything .

Lord Wandsworth College has supported my children through some of their hardest days and I know it would be James' wish as well as my own to allow other children to have the same chance of support, nurture and love in difficult times and that is why I am fundraising for the Lord Wandsworth Foundation when I run the London Marathon this month..

If you are able to donate, thank you. However small, it will make a real difference to other families who need this support. Please click the link to read more about The Foundation.

I truly believe this is what James would have wished.

With love,

Lottie

More about The Foundation:

The Lord Wandsworth Foundation is a long-established charity at the heart of Lord Wandsworth College, founded over 100 years ago to support children who have lost the support of one or both parents, primarily through bereavement. Today, it provides children who have faced challenging times with access to an outstanding education, alongside a safe, stable and nurturing boarding environment where they can rebuild their lives. What makes The Foundation truly transformational is its holistic approach. It does not just fund schooling - it offers deep pastoral care, emotional support, and a strong sense of belonging, helping children overcome trauma, build resilience, and rediscover confidence in themselves. By combining education with wellbeing support and long-term guidance, it enables each child to unlock opportunities and achieve a future that might otherwise have felt out of reach.

https://www.lordwandsworth.org/the-lord-wandsworth-foundation/