This September, I will be running the Nottingham Robin Hood Half Marathon for the Nottingham Children’s Bereavement Centre.

We all deserve a supportive, loving, and listening environment to process grief - and for children especially it is imperative. Losing someone you love at any age is indescribably enormous, but a child experiences that grief without the understanding, experience and perspective that is gained with growing up.

Having lost my lovely lovely best friend at the age of just 11, I know this grief and its toll firsthand - both on myself, my peers, and wider community. This is why I can, and will, loudly advocate for the importance of charities like the Children’s Bereavement Centre. Having access to compassionate, professional support can make a world of difference for navigating something so life-changing, therefore it's pivotal that these services remain accessible to anyone who need them.

The Children’s Bereavement Centre offers free support to children, young people and families across Nottinghamshire and into Lincolnshire who are facing the death or terminal illness of someone they love. They provide one-to-one bereavement counselling, art and play therapy, monthly peer support groups, family programmes, weekend camps, and candlelight remembrance services. They also work with schools to build knowledge and confidence in supporting grieving pupils. In 2024 1,552 people accessed their services and that number is growing every year.

Here’s how your donation could help:

> £10 could fund a comfort bear given to every child accessing support

> £25 could pay for one play therapy session for a child

> £50 could buy crafts and toys to help children express their grief

> £200 could pay for eight sessions of one-to-one bereavement support

(If you’re a UK taxpayer, please don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box — it boosts your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you)

Having only properly started running in February, I am by no means an athlete. But I am enjoying the challenge (alongside also the mental health benefits that come with running!) and I’ll be giving the race my very best shot.

This is my first official running commitment and it means everything that I can honour those I love by supporting a charity whose mission I truly believe in: “to ensure that no child faces bereavement alone.”

Every donation for this incredible charity, no matter how small, is so appreciated. If you are unable to donate, even just sharing the page would mean just as much to me.

Thank You.


Ruds :)