A Norfolk woman who lost her father at the age of three is helping to mark a major milestone.
Child bereavement charity Nelson’s Journey has recently announced it has supported 10,000 children and young people coping with the death of a loved one.
To commemorate the achievement, it has launched its 10,000 Journeys campaign, celebrating the voices of those it has helped since 1997.
One of those is Amelia Mason, of Norfolk, who first came into contact with the charity aged seven - four years after losing her father.
Now a university graduate and volunteer, Amelia said the support she received as a child shaped her life.
She said: “When I was three, I lost my dad. At that age I couldn’t understand what had happened.
“As I got older, I began to really struggle with the reality of being a bereaved kid.”
Amelia attended two of the charity’s Hilltop activity weekends—memories she looks back on with warmth.
“They were a big part of my journey and helped me come to terms with something I didn’t know how to talk about with anyone else,” she said.
“Being surrounded by other bereaved children meant I could talk to people my own age who were struggling too.”
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She said the support did not remove all the challenges, but it gave her tools to understand her emotions.
“I learned that my pain, sadness, anger and even relief were all valid, and that is something I carry with me to this day.”
Now an adult, she has returned to Nelson’s Journey as a volunteer and is pursuing a career in child welfare.
She added: “Without Nelson’s Journey, it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
A series of short films and blogs will be released across the charity’s social media channels in the coming weeks.
- To help Nelson’s Journey continue its support for the next 10,000 bereaved children and young people, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/10kjourneys
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