Katie

Katie explains what inspired her to sign up for the Iceland Northern Lights Trek.

I took on the challenge in memory of Lester and also to fundraise for Child Bereavement UK. The charity has supported our girls and me since he died, helping me navigate how to tell the girls and supporting us all in our grief journey.

“Lester, my husband and daddy to our young daughters, died suddenly and tragically in January 2020. Since he died, I strive every day to do the best I can to help our girls flourish, as well as to adjust to living our lives without him.

I saw details of the Iceland Trek on Child Bereavement UK’s website and felt an instant pull to what looked like a very exciting challenge. It looked like a chance to do something for me that would also make my girls proud of their mummy and make Lester proud of me too. It was a huge personal challenge for me - emotionally as well as physically.

I took on the challenge in memory of Lester and also to fundraise for Child Bereavement UK. The charity has supported our girls and me since he died, helping me navigate how to tell the girls and supporting us all in our grief journey.”

After successfully completing the Iceland Challenge, Katie and her friend Hannah, who also took part in the challenge, created a film of their time in Iceland, how they found the challenge, and all that it meant to them.

“For me, I was doing the challenge in Lester’s memory, but also to push me out of my comfort zone and to do something for me. I think the biggest challenge for me was being away from the girls and doing something so taxing on my body and on my emotions and doing that being away from them. When I got back there was a huge rush of emotion.”

“We’ve been blown away by the amount we’ve raised, the sponsorship has been incredible, especially at the moment as times are really tough and the comments have been beautiful.”

It was challenging, exhilarating, incredible, exhausting, emotional. The most amazing place I think we have ever been, it was beautiful, and we met some amazing people. It couldn’t have been more perfect, and Lester was definitely there with me every step of the way.

Katie and Hannah

Support Katie’s fundraising on her JustGiving page.

If you have been inspired to take on a challenge for us, please visit our challenge events page, contact our fundraising team on [email protected] or call us on 01494 569048.

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