'We’ll walk this journey with you' - The £50k appeal for North Devon’s grieving families

When a child loses a parent or a loved one, life will never be the same. It’s one of the most painful truths we face at North Devon Hospice every single day. It’s why I’m asking for your help this spring.

This February, we launched our Living Through Loss Appeal; a campaign running until the end of March with the goal of raising £50,000. Every pound raised will help North Devon Hospice provide bereavement counselling, support groups and emotional support for local families and children navigating some of life’s most difficult moments.

Grief can happen to any family, at any time. But no family should have to face it alone. Our appeal is about making sure that when the unthinkable happens, there is somewhere to turn, someone to turn to and a community that says: "We see you, we’re here, and we’ll walk this journey with you."

Our hospice is caring for more patients in their 30s, 40s and 50s than ever before. These are parents of young children, partners and the people who hold families together. When they die, they leave behind children facing questions none of them should have to face, carrying a weight no child should have to carry.

A donation to the Living Through Loss Appeal will help create safe spaces for children and families to communicate and feel held, while creating precious memories together. It will fund outdoor activities and art therapies, which are often a gateway to helping children connect and open up through play. It will provide moments for the whole family to connect with a community where they can share experiences and feel comforted and heard.

Crucially, our care doesn’t begin at the point of death. From the moment a loved one is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, we can wrap a family in our care throughout the journey, from diagnosis, to the end of a person’s life and into bereavement. We want to make sure that every family can live well through this time, make precious memories and know that they are not alone.

One of the most impactful ways you can support the appeal is to hold your own fundraising event. Whether at home, at work, at school or in the community, you can bring people together this spring and make a real difference.

You might consider a Pyjama Day or Dress Down Day at school or the office, a Cake Sale or Quiz Night, or even something with a little more adventure, like a Cold Water Dip or a 24-hour challenge.

Schools might love our ‘Bring Your Teddy to School’ day, or a craft workshop where imagination meets community spirit. You could also organise a Pre-Loved Sale or a Raffle; both wonderfully simple ways to bring people together for something truly meaningful.

We have a full range of fundraising materials to support you, from posters and leaflets to branded t-shirts, collection buckets and bunting, all available upon request from Deer Park, Barnstaple. And if you’d like one of our community fundraisers or volunteers to attend your event, just get in touch with plenty of notice and we’ll do our very best to make it happen.

The Living Through Loss Appeal runs until 31 March, and there are several easy ways to give:

Online: www.northdevonhospice.org.uk/livingthroughloss

By phone: Call 01271 347232 during office hours.

Every single pound raised will bring real comfort to grieving families and young hearts right here in our community. Thank you for caring, and thank you, in advance, for whatever you are able to give.