46,300 children are estimated to experience the death of a parent each year. That’s 46,300
children whose lives will change immeasurably forever. As one in every UK classroom will
experience the death of someone close by the time they reach 16 years old, this is a very real and
present problem facing young people today.
Quooker’s MD Stephen Johnson, is all too familiar with grief, after his mother Sandra Johnson
died when he was only 18 months. His personal experience of early loss is driving him to raise
money for Grief Encounter, a charity that exists to support young people facing similar situations.
Grief Encounter has been providing free, professional and specialist bereavement support for
nearly two decades. Its mission is to give every child and young person access to the best
possible support following the death of someone close. Working closely with individuals,
families and schools, the charity offers a way through the anxiety, fear and isolation so often
caused by grief. As Grief Encounter is an open access-charity, it is funded entirely by the
generosity of its supporters.
The mission. Johnson will be embarking on an ambitious and gruelling challenge by walking more
than 35 marathons over the 31 days of August this year. This is the equivalent of walking two
million steps over 1000 miles. Each day Johnson will aim to reach 46.3km steps, an homage to
the 46,300 children facing parental loss each year. His aim is to raise awareness of the impact
on children of the death of someone close whilst raising vital funds for Grief Encounter. Having
invested a full year of training, Johnson is putting himself through his paces to help those most in
need.
Having already received £20k in corporate sponsorship, Johnson has ambitious targets.
Calling upon the KBB industry to offer its support, all proceeds will go to the invaluable work of
Grief Encounter.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/stephen-johnson-1719393474476
Suzy Turner, Grief Encounter’s CEO comments, “Grief is not a choice. When it happens in
childhood it is a forced change, thrust into the developing years, when understanding of the
world, and how to stay safe and happy, is developing too. Stephen is a grieving adult bereaved as
a child, whose commitment to a world where no child grieves alone is steadfast. Stephen’s
support will raise vital awareness of the needs of grieving children.
He is committed to raising vital funds that make sure children and families get access to the help
they need, when they need it, so that they can find hope and healing. He is the epitome of why the
experiences of our children in the first 48 months of their lives matter, how the death of a parent
during these tender years shapes the child and adult, and how making memories is a lifetime
work for good.”
Commenting on the challenge ahead, Johnson comments, “The death of a parent is not only
incredibly distressing, but it is one of the highest risk factors to your health and wellbeing through
to adulthood. No child should face grief alone and it is my hope that by raising awareness and
funds for the vital work of Grief Encounter, more children will benefit from their life-giving support.
The challenge ahead will be incredibly tough and any support the industry can give will help fuel
me along the way.”
