My name is Mary Cadman. When our grandson, Edward, died on 19 April 2009, aged six months and five days, our lives changed for ever. Liz, his mother, is well supported by us and her three sisters but being able to contact the Lullaby Trust and speak to people who really understood what she was going through, made all the difference to her and to us. Now, 10 years on, she and Vic, another daughter, and I (aged 69!) ran the London Marathon in April 2019, raising over £10,000 for the Lullaby Trust in memory of Edward – despite never having ever run anywhere ever before.
I have been a Befriender for about five years, helping other grandmothers gradually come to terms with the loss of their beloved grandchildren. Two of my daughters have also been Befrienders and I think it helps us as well as helping others. It shows us how far we have come since those first horrendous days and weeks, and it is the least we can do to help another family through this impossibly difficult time.
We have hosted cake sales and coffee mornings, I have spoken at fundraising and community events, and I have covered the Helpline many times. I enjoy the annual conferences and especially the Carol Concert which we attended as a family two years ago. The Lullaby Trust is now part of our family!