Walking 31 Miles in May for Dementia UK in memory of mum

[Sandie1961]

This afternoon we said our final goodbye to my lovely mum. The service was just as we wanted it to be with a wonderful celebrant, culminating in each family member placing a stem of Lily of the Valley on mum’s coffin (a tradition in France to give Lily of the valley to mothers and loved ones on 1 May). My sister and I managed to make our way through She is Gone by David Harkins and we all let the beautiful music wash over us.

I have signed up to Walk 31 Miles in May to raise money for Dementia UK, who aim to ensure no family should face this awful disease alone. This morning I did my first walk. Dad came with me and we chatted about mum and prepared ourselves for later. We did 2.87km, such a precious time ❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Sending you love and strength. Walking with memories x

[Lavender1962 Graduate10]

Sending you condolences. The walk is a lovely way to commemorate her and help the cause at the same time.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Really precious time for you and your dad Sandie x

[Annieapple Administrator]

🍏🫶A meaningful way to say goodbye. May your wonderful memories & more lovely walks sustain you and your Dad in the days to come. Xx

[Folkylass Administrator]

Sending condolences to you all.❤️x

[lexi6 Graduate10]

A lovely send off for your Mum Sandie and what a beautiful poem. Arohanui and Kia Kaha xx

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Apparently the author came from Cumbria too. So hard to read aloud, but we made it and it is such a positive and hopeful poem

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Sending healing hugs your way Sandie, sharing walking and memories with your dad is a lovely way to celebrate your mum's life xx

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

the service was very beautiful and moving, I was glad I could be there. I think this photo is a treasure as you both look lovely. Well done on your walks, this one with your amazing Dad and the others that are to follow. Xxx

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

I am really glad you were there too - as their honorary daughter no.3! He doesn’t do badly for 88 does he?

[Lookslikejames Graduate10]

I'm sorry for your loss

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate10]

A great way to come to terms with your loss, I did similar when we lost our Mum nearly 7 years ago and I always mark her birthday with a challenge. Good luck x

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

I'm so sorry Sandie. That's a lovely picture of you and your Dad x

[Yesletsgo Graduate10]

So sorry for your loss, the walk is a lovely thing to do in your dear Mum's memory. Sending sympathy.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

So sorry for your loss. This was such a beautiful memory walk ❤️‍🩹

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Muguet and snurgles for you Sandie xxx

Lily of the valley

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you. Jedi snurgles greatly appreciated 😍

I know France is swamped with muguet but it’s about 2 weeks too soon here. It was really important to me though, so thank goodness for running buddies - one of the Trotters had a small amount in flower in her garden and gave it all to me. What an angel!

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Tbh we're swamped full stop right now - two weeks ago we had several nights of temperatures below zero, plus daytime hail and snow. Been raining most of the time since. our muguet consists of two little clusters of leaves and zero flowers. I was tutoring yesterday and the plant in my photo is a gift from my lycéenne's family.

Forgot to say what a beautiful photo that is of you and your Dad 🥰

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

I’ve seen some of the photos of the hailstorms. Just awful, especially in the east of the country 🥲 We have gone from 5c and rain to 20c and sunshine in 2 days. Crazy!

Mr S took the photo. It probably is the best one of us we’ve had for a long time!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Lots of love Sandie xxx

[misswobble Graduate10]

Oh dear Sandie, I’m so sorry to hear your sad news 😑 To lose our mum is just awful - more than words can say 😢

It must have been lovely to walk with your dad 🙂🥰 I hope you get to do so again soon xx

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Sadly we are 3 hours away, so visits are not as often as we would perhaps like (although we’d never survive living close to each other 😂😂) He does pretty well for 88. I’m encouraging him to walk more now that he could leave the house for longer, as for the last few months he didn’t dare leave mum alone 🥲

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

I hope he’ll get out there into fresh air and hopefully some sun 🌞 It’ll do him good 🙂

[Coddfish Graduate10]

it sounds a lovely service, sending you lots of love x

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Thank you 🙏 It really was lovely. Because mum didn’t want a religious service, it was so personal and just a celebration of 89 wonderful years 😊