Hayley Allinson will be donning her hiking boots this Mother’s Day for a sunrise trek up Pen y Fan as she takes part in our Hike for Hope event.  

Winston’s Wish is a cause close to Hayley’s heart. After she was bereaved of her mum, Hayley was supported by us in the aftermath. Hayley shares, “I thought it would be a great way to give back to an amazing charity that has helped me when I was younger and also give myself a good distraction on Mother’s Day. 

“I always make sure to give myself something to do on big events like Mother’s Day, my mum’s birthday and the anniversary of her death, so that it gives me more time to reflect on happy memories rather than sitting at home and feeling sad.  

“I am looking forward to having that feeling of accomplishment once I have got to the top of Pen y fan. I am yet to venture out in a walk in the rain, but I should practice since Wales is known for its rainy weather!  

“As a day job, I work in a nursery and I work as the SENco so I help children who may have additional needs. What I would like people to know about child bereavement is that everyone goes on a different path.  

“Even if they seem like the happiest child in the world and like nothing has happened, they may still be feeling big emotions on the inside but don’t want to share those feelings in fear of adding more stress onto a family who is already stressed. 

“Having open and honest conversations with children about their feelings and also your own feelings can help them get through hard times. Also having open conversations with children who haven’t been through bereavement so they are aware of different family situations they may come across, can be great for their understanding.” 

Hike for Hope will take place on the 15^th of March, a date many will acknowledge as Mother’s Day.  

The event will see intrepid trekkers pick up their hiking boots and take part in a sponsored walk under starlight to enjoy a sunrise finish atop South Wales’ tallest peak, part of the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog. There is a £25 registration fee and a minimum sponsorship to raise £160. 

We recognise that Mother’s Day can be an especially tricky time of year for many bereaved children and young people. 

Hayley comments, “Mother’s Day as an adult can be hard but as I have previously said about trying to find distractions on the day, I always go visit my mum’s grave with my dad as a few of our other family members are buried there and lay some flowers down and then we normally go for a walk somewhere.” 

If you would like to join Hayley and find out more about the Hike for Hope Pen y Fan, visit the dedicated page on the Winston’s Wish Events site. Participants can expect a bundle from Winston’s Wish, including dedicated fundraising support, access to the training as well as a branded technical t-shirt.   

Feel inspired?

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On 7th September, Helen will be running the Great North Run for Winston’s Wish with a picture of her dad on her vest. He died when Helen was just nine and he was a keen runner. Inspired by her dad, Helen decided to run to raise money to ensure other grieving children can get support from Winston’s Wish. The support that nine-year-old Helen needed.

Helen tells us all about her inspiration for running the Great North Run, why she choose to support Winston’s Wish and her experience as a bereaved child:

What inspired you to run the Great North Run?

“I idolised my dad; we were the best of pals. We did lots of outdoor activities together, one of which was running. Dad was a fell runner, and on practice nights with the local association, we’d run around the town green as he warmed up for his fell run. I’d struggle to keep up, but he’d encourage me. I can still see him smiling down at me now, running alongside.

“I remember watching the first London Marathon with Dad, and him telling me how fantastic it was and that one day he would like to run a big city race.

“It has been in my mind since my dad died that I have wanted to run a race to make him proud of his daughter. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve tried to learn to run; there’s been many, many failed attempts. In the Spring of last year, I’d been listening to the Chris Evans Breakfast show, and their team had just completed the London Marathon. Their enthusiasm for running made me download the Couch-to-5k app and have a bash at this running lark one final time!”

Why did you choose to support Winston’s Wish?

“I had read about Winston’s Wish online, and the first time I came across their webpage, I sobbed! Proper sobbed my heart out! Because there was someone, someone out there for the broken nine-year-old that lives inside of me. Children who were experiencing my kind of grief were able to receive compassionate support at Winston’s Wish. I now knew who I would run a race in memory of my dad for. I had my charity!”

“On a dark November day in 1981, my world changed forever. Nine-year-old me came down the stairs bleary-eyed to a house full of close family. In my heart, I knew there was something massively wrong. Mum told me my dad was dead, and I wouldn’t see him again.

“He had been killed by a drunk driver. I can remember that moment like it was yesterday, and it still takes my breath away even when I think about it now, forty-four years on. It is branded into my heart, and every time I recollect it, I feel the pain in my chest from the catastrophic shock of that day. The next week, my brother and I were back at school, and we were just expected to cope.

“When you’ve lost a parent, everything really does fall apart. My childhood was filled with worry and anxiety about things kids shouldn’t have to worry about. Mum was depressed and struggling to function.

“Days out didn’t feel right, holidays felt lonely as I looked on at other families with both mum and a dad having fun. Christmas was sad. New Year was worse, another one without him. There was a massive hole that couldn’t be filled. I also lost my only sibling, my nineteen-year-old brother, when I was twenty-two.

How has training been going and are you looking forward to the Great North Run?

“I’m not going to lie to you, learning to run and now training for the Great North Run is the hardest physical thing I’ve done in my life. When it’s got really tough dad’s spirit has encouraged me on and I’ve thought of all the young people who need help.

“In training for Winston’s Wish, I have pushed myself to my absolute limit. But I am pushing myself for that grieving child that still resides inside of me. And with every step of every training run, that nine-year-old girl within is healed a little bit more.

“I’m filled with nervous excitement for the Great North Run, my Running with Dad part 2, but I know it will be a privilege to run this iconic race with dad’s photo on my Winston’s Wish vest and with him in my heart too, chugging round the course for the deserving young people who are supported by the work of Winston’s Wish. And as I raise my arms as I cross the finish line, I will feel incredibly lucky.”

To follow Helen’s journey ahead of her Great North Run, take a look at her dedicated Just Giving page.

Feel inspired?

Has Helen’s Great North Run challenge inspired you? Put your best foot forward and join Team Winston in 2025 or 2026!

With hundreds of events happening across the UK and throughout the year, you can choose a challenge that matches your pace.

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Winston’s Wish Youth Ambassador, Toby, embarked on a mammoth walking challenge as they conquered the famed South West Coast 10 Challenge.

“I chose the South West Coast 10k Challenge as it’s close to home, both physically and emotionally. The 10k route is around Dunster Castle which is near my home of North Devon.”

In the weeks and months leading up to the challenge, Toby was training throughout, preparing for the 10k walk.

“Luckily, I’m regularly at the gym keeping fit to go back to my university’s rowing squad in September, so I’m just adding in some more endurance training alongside my strength training.

“My family and I have been on walks over Exmoor quite a lot as I’ve grown up, so I’m excited for a trek through the woodlands.”  

Supporting Winston’s Wish

Toby was 14 when their dad died and after receiving support from Winston’s Wish, Toby signed up to be a Youth Ambassador, championing for more bereavement services for children and young people.

“I decided to join the Winston’s Wish Youth Ambassador Team when I saw my friends posting about the amazing things the charity has done or is doing, it inspired me to use my experiences with grief for good!

“I’ve mainly helped create some episodes for the Grief in Common podcast, talking about topics from how to handle new stepparents to how grief can affect your body! It’s quite lovely thinking of how sharing my own experiences and struggles, and how I got through them, could help the young people and parents or guardians listening. 

“My dad passed away a little over 6 years ago when I was 14, and I still listen to the Grief in Common podcast to adopt new coping mechanisms, to prepare myself for new milestones, or just to know that I’m not alone in my grief.”

Feel Inspired?

Has Toby’s mammoth 10k challenge got you inspired? Then put your best foot forward and join Team Winston’s in 2025 or 2026!

With hundreds of events happening across the UK and throughout the year, you can choose a challenge that matches your pace.

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