Today marks the start of National Grief Awareness Week (2nd to 8th December), and one Buckinghamshire couple has found a poignant way to navigate their loss while also spreading Christmas cheer.
Teresa and Jason Smith from Woburn Sands lost two members of their family to brain tumours and have decorated their house with Christmas lights to raise awareness of the disease. The couple switched on their festive display to a crowd of family and friends, having battled last week’s Storm Bert to add the finishing touches.
Now, they are inviting people to visit the illuminations, on display until 1st January 2025, while enjoying refreshments of hot chocolate and mulled wine, and asking them to donate to Brain Tumour Research. Previously, Teresa took part in our Cycle 274 Miles in August challenge to raise money for the Charity.
Jason’s dad, Dave Smith (pictured top left with Teresa), died of a glioblastoma (GBM) just two months ago, two years after receiving his diagnosis. However, the couple first began spreading Christmas cheer in this way eight years ago, following the death of Teresa’s eldest sister, Sue Hughes (pictured top right). Sue died just three weeks after being diagnosed with a GBM, aged 55.
Teresa said: “We’d always had Christmas lights, but when Sue died on 28th November in 2015, we didn’t know whether to carry on with them.
“But Sue loved Christmas – and penguins in particular – so we forged ahead to bring some light to a difficult time. It makes me happy and I love the joy it brings to all the children.”
The magical display provides a fitting tribute to both Dave and Sue during National Grief Awareness Week, at a time of year that can be particularly difficult for those who are grieving and have experienced the loss of a loved one.
“If there was more research into brain tumours, maybe Sue would have had more time,” said Teresa. “But that requires money, which is why we do what we do for Brain Tumour Research.”
You can donate to Brain Tumour Research via Teresa and Jason’s JustGiving page.
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one to a brain tumour, you can find support at braintrust.org.uk.
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Published Monday 2nd November 2024.