Fiona Goundry has made an incredibly poignant dedication to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice’s Light up the Lake campaign in memory of her husband, David.

Fiona, 57, has dedicated a lantern to David, which will float out onto Manvers Lake with hundreds of others on the couple’s 34^th wedding anniversary.  Tragically, David took his own life a year ago in September 2021. 

Fiona said: “I noticed that the hospice’s Light up the Lake campaign was taking place on 17^th September, which is our wedding anniversary. I felt that dedicating a lantern to float out onto the lake was a fitting and peaceful, tranquil memory to David on that special date for us.  It felt like a very serene and moving way to celebrate his memory”

David and Fiona were childhood sweethearts, meeting when Fiona was 12, and starting dating when she was 16. They married in 1988, and have two grown-up daughters, Hannah and Beth.  

Fiona continued “David was such a well thought of and well-respected man, and there were over 300 people at his funeral. He would always go out of his way to help others, and I felt that this was a lovely way to remember him and help a charity at the same time”

“David was not a person who would speak out, and we had no idea how much he was struggling. I’d like to appeal to anyone who is struggling like David and let them know that there is support available for you from charities such as Andy’s Man Club. It’s OK to talk and share how you’re feeling.”

Sam Wood, Head of Fundraising at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Fiona for dedicating a light to David. This is a lovely way to remember him, with his lantern floating out across the water under the sunset.  Fiona’s donation will help us continue to be a light in the darkness for local children and families and we’re so grateful for her support”.

A spokesman from Andy’s Man Club added “"ANDYSMANCLUB are touched by the support offered to the charity by the Goundry family. It is always touching to see a family turn their heartbreak into a desire to help others and prevent other families from going through what they have. Increased awareness of our message and our charity helps us to reach that one man, at the right time which could potentially be life-saving. To echo what Fiona has said, support is available and #ItsOkayToTalk about how you are feeling if you are down. If you would like to find out more about ANDYSMANCLUB, or find your nearest group – please email [email protected] or head to www.andysmanclub.co.uk - our sessions run free of charge in over 100 locations nationwide with no prior registration or referral needed. Thank you to Fiona and the Goundry family for their touching tribute."

You can dedicate your own lantern to a loved one here.