Doreen Savage walked 70 miles in 7 days in aid of Meningitis Research Foundation to mark her 70th birthday. Now, 10 years on, she has pledged to walk 80 miles in the month of May. This will mark her 80th birthday. Doreen’s ambitious new charitable endeavour is in aid of Ipswich based LivingGrief Bereavement. The challenge is in memory of her children, Debbie and Adam.

Doreen and her husband Ray, of Bentley, Suffolk, lost both Debbie and Adam when they were each aged 20 years old. Debbie died suddenly of Meningitis just before Christmas in 1989. And they lost Adam in a fatal car accident in January 1993.

Doreen says: “We miss Debbie and Adam just as much today as the day we had to say goodbye to them. Knowing and understanding so well the impact and importance of support through grief, both initially and onwards, to mark my 80th birthday I’m walking to support the invaluable and important work that LivingGrief does to support those who are bereaved in our local Suffolk community.”

Doreen will be walking 20 miles a week all over the Ipswich area during the month of May. She says, “I know that LivingGrief would have been a very welcome support to us during the dark days after we lost Debbie and Adam, and I hope that they will be able to continue and extend the wonderful work that they do for all those who find themselves in our position over the coming years.”

All donations are very welcome. Please go to JustGiving at justgiving.com/page/doreen-savage-80 to donate what you can.

About LivingGrief Bereavement

LivingGrief Bereavement is run by St Elizabeth Hospice and coordinates bereavement support for those in need in East Suffolk. Founded in 2021 and based in Ipswich. The Clinical Commissioning Group fund LivingGrief. Their work centres on an individual’s needs. They offer a wealth or practical advice and support when and where it is most needed.