Remembering Her Dad, Supporting Others: Eve’s Helvellyn Story

Eve lost her dad unexpectedly when she was just eight years old. Reflecting on that time, she says: “Looking back on photos of myself as a child, I’m not sure I fully realised just how young I was.” She remembers feeling as though she had to grow up quickly in the face of such a difficult and adult situation.

Although she was surrounded by love and support from her family, the internal impact of her loss remained. This began to ease when she received support from a school therapist, who helped her to understand and process her grief. Through creative outlets such as arts, crafts and music, she was also encouraged to hold on to her childhood during what was an incredibly difficult time.

Years later, Eve still feels the impact of losing her dad, particularly as she reaches new life milestones. However, she believes the support she received early on gave her a strong foundation, helping her to understand her grief and how it continues to shape her life.

Reflecting on her experience, Eve explains: “One of the hardest things about growing up bereaved is how conversations often stop when you say someone has died.” She shares that she doesn’t want her dad to be remembered simply as ‘the person who died’, but for who he truly was – “his personality, his humour, and the little things that made him him.”

Eve believes that being able to speak openly about her dad is a direct result of the support she received as a child – support she now hopes other children will be able to access too. “The support I received helped me understand that talking about him, remembering him and sharing stories wasn’t something to avoid – it was something important,” she says. “It helped me realise that grief and love can exist alongside joy, humour and happy memories too.”

To honour his memory and support other bereaved children, Eve took on the challenge of climbing Helvellyn, recognising first-hand how vital organisations like OWLS can be. What stood out to her most is their mission to ensure children experiencing loss still have the chance to simply be children again, even if only for a short time. “Knowing that the funds raised could help a child attend an activity day with a family member was a huge motivator for me,” she explains.

No family has to face loss alone.

The OWLS (Overcoming Worry, Loss and Sadness) Bereavement Service offers care, understanding, and specialist support for children and families who have experienced the death of a loved one. By providing 1-2-1 support, group activities, and safe spaces to share feelings, OWLS helps children find comfort, build resilience, and know that they are not alone in their grief.

We are proud to provide this service in partnership with Child Bereavement UK, funding them to provide the very best support for families when they need it most.

If you’d like to reach out, please contact us at info@janetomlinsonappeal.com. You’ll also find resources and guidance here on our websit and https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ to offer reassurance and support at any stage of your journey.