Youngster’s tribute to late sister emphasises importance of Grief Awareness week

Hundreds of people from across south London will dedicate a light in memory of loved ones this weekend to mark the start of National Grief Awareness Week.

And one seven-year-old’s experience of grief and bereavement counselling will sum up the significance of the event.

Families and friends will come together to remember loved ones at St Christopher’s hospice in Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, at 3pm on Sunday December.

The event will include performances by students from the Brit School. There will also be an act of remembrance, the lighting of a remembrance trees and speeches and readings from staff at the hospice.

People are invited to dedicate a light in memory of their loved ones and donate to the hospice to help provide more support for the community into the future.

As well as delivering support to more than 4,000 patients each year, St Christopher’s also provides bereavement support for both adults and children.

Samantha Ryan, from Lewisham, signed her seven-year-old son Jaheem to the charity’s Candle Child Bereavement Service following the death of his younger sister, Jahniyah, last year.

Jaheem said: “When I first knew I was coming to talk about Jahniyah, I felt a bit nervous because I felt Jahniyah dying was like a secret. But it isn’t any more.

“It feels like I should be here because it’s a nice place and it always helps me. I like being here because it has all the right things I need.

“I loved my sister. She was always by my side, always followed me and always wanted to come where I was going. She was just so cute.”

Samantha said: “It was what we needed. I felt they were here for him and he knew it was his time to be vulnerable to be himself, to go to have his session in private, in a safe space, knowing mummy was just downstairs.

“I think what’s been amazing is Candle has been in our life through the process of losing his only sister and then the emotions of mummy being pregnant again. It’s been an amazing support he’s had through the different parts of his journey.”

They are just one of the hundreds of families invited to St Christopher’s Remembering with events, including Sunday’s event at Sydenham.

Samantha and Jaheem will be attending a new young-person focused remembrance event on Saturday.

Rev Dr Andrew Goodhead, lead chaplain at St Christopher’s, said: “I know there are also particular times of year when we might feel loss more keenly. The festive period is one of those times, for many people, because it is a time so many of us gather to celebrate with family and friends.

“This is why St Christopher’s always offers everyone in our community the opportunity to dedicate a light, or lights, to people whose memories they hold dear, on our remembrance trees during the festive season.

“We look forward to seeing hundreds of people come and light up the night sky in memory.”

Pictured top: Samantha and Jaheem (Picture: St Christopher’s)