On April 17th 2014 my fiancé, Richard, was killed in a car accident, near our home in Kent. 

He was my rock, my sounding board, my best friend, greatest support and biggest fan. The hole he leaves in my life and the lives of my two children, is ENORMOUS. He leaves a hole in the lives of many others too but this ‘challenge’ is fuelled by a very personal, first hand experience of witnessing how grief affected the little minds of those closest to me, of how they grieve as much as adults and take a long time to heal.

Winstons Wish is an AMAZING charity that helps many thousands of children begin to start dealing with their loss. The charity has been a huge source of advice, information and support in helping me to help them.

Richard genuinely LOVED children – after all, he was just a big kid himself. To children he was a climbing frame, a puppet, someone to tease, someone to laugh with, play with, learn with, read with, have fun with, cuddle with, occasionally sleep with (read on). He wasn't just a father to his own children and mine, he assumed a fatherly role to any child lucky enough to meet him - they ALL loved him and his magical way of being.  It seems very apt, therefore, to support a children’s charity and one, we’ve tragically needed to turn to.

Anyway…. Why this particular challenge? A few reasons…. It marks the anniversary of Richards death and San Francisco was the place we had decided was our next destination. But most of all it’s because we loved our bike rides together. Richards first present to me was my bike which will always remind me of carefree days peddling alongside each other – often to the pub, occasionally to a dead end, but always home together.

So.. although I won't be doing this challenge on the bike Richard gave me I will spend the time remembering him and those happy times we had with the wind in our hair (his very fine, mine flyaway) 

As a parent you never know if this is something you may have to face so please give generously, whether you remember the light that was Richard, or simply recognise that this is very good cause.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.