Two villagers from Wolverton, Warwickshire are holding a charity coffee morning on Saturday (18th March) in memory of their 12-year-old neighbour, Charles Ludford who died in February, 2020 – just before lockdown struck the UK.
Just eight months earlier, Charles had been diagnosed with Diffuse Instrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It was a diagnosis no child should ever face and no parents should ever hear – there has been no progress in finding a cure for this killer in more than 50 years.
Sandra Green and June Mathias wanted to show their love and support for the Ludford Family who have lived in the village for 19 years. Charles’ mum, Jennie now works for the Warwickshire children’s charity, Molly Ollys so that she can help emotionally support other families facing very frightening and challenging times. All donations from the coffee morning will go to Molly Ollys.
Jennie said: “I will never ever forget my husband, Jim and I, being told Charles – our sporty, healthy boy – had a terminal brain tumour and that all they could do was six weeks of palliative radiotherapy. Your world literally falls apart and you’ve never felt as terrified in your whole life as then.
“Three years on, we are still learning to live without Charles and the ramifications of not having that child you adored and cherished in your life is something that is very hard to accept. But using my pain and loss to help others is my way of trying to make sense of what happened.
“Working for Molly Ollys is one way I can honour Charles’ life. It is a wonderful charity that helps children with life-threatening illnesses by delivering wishes to make them smile, donating its Olly The Brave therapeutic soft toy lion and story books and by working with the NHS on bespoke projects to help improve the quality of life for children whose life will not be long.”
Sandra, who only lives up the road from Jennie, said: “I have known the Ludfords for a very long time and Charles and his sister, Izzy used to walk to my house and come in for a drink and chat. Charles was such a gorgeous young man and holding this coffee morning is one way I can do something good in his memory.”
On Saturday, there will be an array of cakes including gluten-free and vegan options, as well as tea and coffee. There is no entry fee, people are just asked to make a donation to Molly Ollys.
The coffee morning runs from 10.30-12.30 at Wolverton Church Hall, Wolverton, CV37 0HE.
