On August 27th 2019 I received a phone call that no parent or sibling should have to take. Josh was 21. He had died in a freak accident whilst visiting his best friend who was studying in Budapest. That moment will never leave me. Josh was a strong, exuberant character with a passion for music and living life and it is over 5 years since his passing and the pain is still tremendous, it never goes away but over time you learn how to deal with it and learn how to manage it in your own personal way.

This year myself, Jake (Josh’s brother) and Sam (a very close friend of both Jake and Josh) have agreed to take part in the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge as we trek the 24 miles of the Yorkshire Three Peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough) climbing over 5000ft in under 12 hours.

This challenge, which has been organised by the Good Grief Project, brings together bereaved parents and siblings and puts us together in a safe environment surrounded by those on their own journey's. The physical challenge adds some jeopardy, some beautiful scenery and a demanding challenge for Jake, Sam and I but also provides us with the opportunity to continue our own personal journey celebrating Josh’s life.

The Good Grief Project is a support mechanism and it’s mission is “to support families grieving after the untimely death of a loved one, particularly the death of a son or daughter of any age, and to promote an understanding of what it means to grieve in a society that often has difficulty talking openly about death, dying and bereavement”.

Please give what you can and we promise to send everyone who donates a piece of skin from our dishevelled feet on completion!

Thank you