A bereaved dad is gearing up for a mud-filled day of fundraising to support a children’s hospice close to his heart. Jacob Llewellyn was born at 25 weeks and died just over two months later, at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, in May 2013.
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) supported parents Alun and Clare after his death, at The Treehouse, in Ipswich. It meant the family were able to spend precious time with Jacob, creating memories, including taking hand and foot casts.
Alun and Clare, who continue to attend memorial days at the hospice, have become dedicated fundraisers, as a way of thanking EACH. Now Alun and son Thomas, 12, are taking part in The Piglet, Junior Hog challenge – a mud and water-filled 4k obstacle course – on 9th July.
After taking up running during lockdown and having completed The Piglet in 2021 and 2022, Alun says the fun atmosphere and supportive participants and spectators makes it an unmissable event. Alun said: “Raising money is the least we can do, because of the help and support we received when we needed it most.
“From the moment Jacob died, EACH was there to make life less overwhelming, helping to deal with and answer our questions and concerns. We were encouraged to capture moments and celebrate Jacob’s life, which we do through attending memory days, regular sibling events and family events.
“It was exactly what we needed, when we needed it most. It’s an amazing charity that holds a special place in our hearts.”
To sponsor Alun and Thomas, head here. Also organised by same national events company, Eight Point Two, are two further linked events later in the year, on 8th October.
The Whole Hog is a five-mile course, filled with water and mud and featuring 30 obstacles, while The Boss Hog, which Alun completed in 2022, is a slightly longer seven-mile run, featuring more than 40 obstacles.
All three events take place at Wantisden Hall, near Woodbridge, and EACH has been charity partner for The Whole Hog since 2018. Both The Whole Hog and The Boss Hog are open to individuals and teams of up to 20 people.
For larger teams, email bookings@wholehograces.co.uk to discuss alternative booking options. Hardy participants will go off in one of four waves, at 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30am.
EACH will receive £5 from the organisers for every person that registers for The Whole Hog and Boss Hog. For more details about both events, head here.
To find out more about other EACH fundraisers, click here.
