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Smiling Through Sadness
1st November 2023 - 30th November 2023
Come together and make Children’s Grief this November the month to remember.
Grief is never time limited though this November we are shining the light on the importance of children’s grief as part of Children’s Grief Awareness Week 16th – 23rd November 2023.
This could be one of the most traumatic experiences a child will ever have to face. But it doesn’t have to. With your help, the Hospice can make sure bereaved children and young people get the support they need to enable them to move forward, live a healthy lifestyle and learn again to Smile Through Sadness.
We’re calling on all children and younger supporters this November to join with the Hospice and help raise vital funds to support children and young people who have lost a loved one.
Can you give up something you love to support another child or young person who has lost a love one. Got a sweet tooth or avid gamer?
Can you take on a daily challenge for the 30 days of November; Readathon, walk, skip, jog, scoot a km/mile or set yourself a target of so many sit-ups, push-ups, star jumps a day and smash it! How about offering to do something to help someone else each day, eg take the dog for a walk, put the hoover round, clean your room – an act of kindness a day to help others whilst raising vital funds?
Challenge Details
Date / Time: Virtual for the month of November.
Reg Fee: Free to sign up.
How to sign up: Click on the I’m In Sign Me Up button and tell us what you’re planning on doing this November and we can cheer you on. We will also send you your challenge card to help you keep track and show everyone how well you’re doing.
Sponsorship Ask: We’ve tasked our children and young people to raise £38.40 which will help pay towards a childhood Bereavement Support Session and Book.
Sponsorship Incentive: Hospice medal and challenge certificate. For everyone who raises over £38.40 we will enter you into a prize draw for a Cinema experience for 4.
Join our online fundraising Just Giving Campaign HERE where you can link to or set up your on just giving page.
Join our Event Face Book Page and post your progress, photos and challenge clips.
Whatever you decide to do to support children grieve this November, do it in the knowing that you will make a huge difference in enabling the Hospice to be there for them when someone dear to them dies.
Meet our specialist practitioner experienced in bereavement support; Jill Bowen.
If you would like more information about our bereavement services, please visit our website or call the office on 01495 717277 option 1.
Here are some quotes from children and young people who have been supported by Jill.
Meet our Sponsor
Ludom Storage is a family run self storage facility based in Brynmawr. We provide storage space for household and business customers. We are passionate about our community and support local organisations, charities and groups through volunteering, donations, collections and providing free space. We are proud to sponsor the Hospice of the Valleys ‘Smiling through Sadness’ this November and support their childhood bereavement service. The Hospice of the Valleys is a charity that is close to our hearts and supports so many people in the community we live.
Related Events
Running in her Dad’s Memory
Charlotte Ralph has raised almost £2000 for Hospice of the Valleys by running the Newport Marathon in memory of her dad. Charlotte’s father, Andrew was a keen runner himself and had been a member of the Lliswerry Runners for around seven years and took part in several half and full marathons. It wasn’t until Charlotte left university that she began joining her Dad on his runs and then joined the Lliswerry Runners herself.
Initially Charlotte would struggle to keep up, saying:
“At first I was always behind him but he would always run with me and never leave me behind,”
Through commitment and perseverance Charlotte became fitter and faster and could finally keep up with her dad:
“When I got faster he would always say that ‘I had age on my side’, unfortunately, when he got ill he had to give up running which he hated.”
Even after having to give up his own running, Andrew was so supportive of his daughter that he would be at every single race, always keen to spur her on.
This year, Charlotte took part in her first ever marathon in her dad’s memory, raising funds for the Hospice who supported him in the final stages of his illness. Taking on such a big challenge not only demonstrates the special relationship between Charlotte and her father, but shows Charlotte’s natural determination to overcoming obstacles to reach positive outcomes even in spite of devastating circumstances.
Charlotte has said that she chose the Hospice of the Valleys because of the “great support network” they provided for the family during her dad’s cancer battle. And that:
“After my father passed away they called to see how we were and were just amazing. As I had never done a marathon before I knew it would be something that I could do to raise money for them.” Charlotte also wants to say a special thanks to the Lliswerry running club who helped in her fundraising.
