Becoming a patron of bereaved children’s charity Grief Encounter is uncomfortable

I was recently asked if I would become a patron of Grief Encounter. I have to be honest that initially I was very tempted to say no. Yet a friend of mine is having to deal with the tragic death of his wife at far too young an age (some of you will have read her inspiring Fighting Genghis blog) with two young children who the charity is helping.

So I have swallowed my difficulties and agreed to help, as raising awareness for these issues is important. This is my patron’s statement, which I think will explain my reticence:

I wrestled with becoming a patron of Grief Encounter as it meant I would need to explain my connection. I lost my mother, suddenly, tragically, devastatingly, two days before I was 12. Things were done differently then, so my sister and I didn’t have counselling.

The scars from it are still so deep that even now, over thirty years later, it is still painful for me to talk about. With Grief Encounter I desperately hope our current generation going through their own pain will get the help they need.