Abseil challenge in memory of Timothy

Skipton dad Chris Wray is raising money for us by abseiling down a Yorkshire landmark in memory of his son Timothy.

Chris, 41, is taking part in our Cow and Calf Abseil Challenge on Saturday 18 June.

Timothy died in 2015 aged nearly 15 weeks, during emergency surgery to remove a brain tumour. He was brought to us, where Chris, wife Helen and their eldest son Edward, now 10, were able to spend time with him after his death.

In the seven years since Timothy’s death, Chris, Helen and their friends and family have raised nearly £33,000 for us  in his memory.

Chris said: ‘We have benefited greatly from Martin House and the support it has given us over the years — certainly early on with bereavement support and counselling.

‘It’s a connection that never really goes away, and at the time of Timothy’s death, Martin House had been a bubble away from reality for us. We look back on being there with fondness — it gave us time with Timothy, to make keepsakes and for our close family to come visit him and say their goodbyes.’

Chris decided to sign up for the abseil on what would have been Timothy’s seventh birthday and will be cheered on by Helen, Edward and their youngest son Bertie who is four-years-old.

He added: ‘Anniversaries are still difficult, and the time between his birthday and July, when he died, is always hard for us. It’s important for us to say Timothy’s name, to share his story and that he’s still here in our hearts.

‘The abseil just spoke to me as a challenge, I’ve never done anything like this before. But it also seemed like a fun way for us to remember Timothy, and say we are still supporting Martin House in his name.’

Maddie Bentley our senior events fundraiser, said: ‘We’re honoured that Chris has chosen to take part in the abseil in memory of Timothy, and we’re so grateful to him and Helen for their support, which means we’ve been able to help so many more families. We hope he enjoys the experience on the day.’

You can support Chris by visiting his JustGiving page.

It costs £25 to sign up, plus a minimum sponsorship target of £175. Find out more and sign up today.