My wife Claudia died on 24th April 2023. Shortly after she died I was introduced by the hospice to a charity called Widowed and Young (WAY) - www.widowedandyoung.org.uk.

WAY is open to anyone aged 50 or under when they lose their partner, regardless of marital status, family size, sexual orientation, cause of death or any other factor.

It is a small peer-support organisation, where people who have been bereaved can talk to others in the same situation who just "get it" (a phrase you hear often in WAY groups). There are both online video meetings and in-person events and activities all over the UK (which are much less depressing than you might expect....). Beyond the peer support, WAY also campaigns on behalf of those who have been bereaved, such as to secure bereavement benefits for the children of cohabiting couples.

I have been so fortunate for all of the support that so many of you have given me over the last 8 months (plus the nearly two years before). I will never be able to adequately say thank you - whether emailing, messaging or offering to meet, it has made such a difference to me.

However, it is sometimes both exhausting and difficult to explain what grieving the loss of Claudia feels like. I often don't really have the words, and there have been many moments and emotions that were lonely or frightening, or I didn't understand. Through WAY I've been able to talk with and listen to others who have been through or are going through the same. To be able to say what I'm really feeling to people who don't need an explanation. Just to hear that others experience the same emotions has been an immense comfort.

I have been so lucky to be told about WAY - it has made such a difference to me since Claudia died. Many bereaved younger people only find out about WAY months or even years after their loss, or not at all.

I've decided to join a small group of (very unwise) WAY members walking 26 miles round London on 27th January (and in my case probably into the 28th....). It's fair to say that I'm already regretting this decision....

We will all be trying to raise money for WAY, so that it can reach and support more younger people who have been bereaved. I know that just after Christmas is a truly terrible time to ask for sponsorship. However, if you are able to sponsor me then I would be so grateful.