TigerLily Trust - Winner of Fundraiser of the Year at the Your Health Heroes Awards 2016

Val Isherwood founder of local charity Tigerlily Trust was overjoyed to be awarded Fundraiser of the Year at the Your Health Heroes Awards 2016 presented by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust.

Val was celebrating LBNs 10^th year anniversary with us at the Netherwood when she heard she had won the award and expressed her gratitude for LBNs support over the years and for those who have specifically helped her by sharing their gifts and talents with her to help Tigerlily Trust flourish.

“ It means the world to us to have been given this award. It is great validation for all our hard work, the generosity of our supporters, fundraisers and volunteers, and every bereaved parent we have supported.”

Val asked if we could give a gentle reminder of the Menu of Needs she made for our anniversary celebration, any help, however small, would be deeply appreciated. “ I know everyone’s time is so precious, but if you can spare even a couple of hours a month to help us it would really make a difference.”

On a personal note –

“I want to share, for anyone who can’t imagine they will ever feel real, authentic joy and happiness ever again – you will – one day, when you least expect it, something will trigger it, as receiving this award did for me. It took me a while to realise why what I was feeling felt so hugely significant, it was because I hadn’t felt like this since before Lily died, and I had accepted that I may never feel real joy ever again. Experiencing such profound loss does this, makes you believe you will never be truly happy again. So it took me by surprise, to realise that this unfamiliar, strangely powerful emotion I was feeling was in fact pure joy and happiness, it stayed with me briefly, I wanted to cling to that feeling, but it passed. But now I know it is possible, to feel deep, authentic, pure, joy again after loss. Little by little, as we heal, tiny sparks of joy will return. Part of me will always grieve for my child, but now I know it is possible for grief and joy to coexist.”

UHMBT Fundraiser of the Year Award, such a joyous validation of all OUR hard work – huge thanks to everyone who has supported

Tigerlily Trust and helped us to attain this award. Love and light, Val x x x