Raphy died suddenly in March 2023 after collapsing while playing sports at school. He was only 17 and the beloved only son of our dear friends Sabine Vandenbrouke and Michael Pryor. Raphy and our son Lysander had spent 5 happy years together at school and away and he is sorely missed. Raph was a wonderful boy, a fantastic friend, talented sportsman and an actor with great comic timing!

Raphy was a very keen sportsman. He was a captain of his house sport teams and was loved and respected for his energetic and empathetic leadership. He inspired by his example and putting an arm around his teammates. He was a lover of the outdoors, particularly fishing and skiing, at which he excelled. He was due to spend this winter as a ski instructor in Haute-Nendaz, Switzerland.

As someone who was half-English and half-Belgian, Raphy was bilingual in Dutch and English and was fast catching up with another of Belgium’s official languages with his French A-Level. He was passionate about History and hoped to study History and French at University. He was excited at the prospect of being able to teach skiers in three languages at Haute-Nendaz.

Raphy has already been an inspiration to many who knew him and loved him and also many others who have been touched by his story. Raphy's Runners hope to take a positive step forward in his memory, by running a marathon or 10K run in Brighton on 6th of April 2025.

Some of the runners will also fundraise for Child Bereavement UK (CBUK), who have given Michael and Sabine valuable help since Raphy's death.

CBUK help children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. Child Bereavement UK also provide training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

Please use this page to do any of the following:

1. If you want to run with Raphy’s Runners and enter either the Marathon or the 10K run please sign up at this link:

https://www.letsdothis.com/gb/checkout/ticket?eventId=219913races=21111207547

There is no requirement or expectation for you to raise money for CBUK – you can choose your own cause, or just run with us.

2. If, as a runner, you would like to raise money in Raphy's memory to support CBUK, you can link your entry to the CBUK fundraising team here:

https://childbereavementuk.formstack.com/forms/own_space_charity_form

3. If you don’t fancy running but would like to donate to any one of Raphy’s Runners, please follow the links on this page.

You are welcome to share this page with others.

Thank you,

Raphy's Runners