Freddie’s Wish
1543. Charlotte Jolliffe
Charlotte Jolliffe, from Rugby, founded bereavement charity ‘Freddie’s Wish’ in memory of her son Freddie, who was killed in a road accident in December 2014 aged only 13 months old.
Charlotte has since raised over £170,000 to provide bereavement support across Warwickshire for families who have lost a baby or child. ‘Freddie’s Wish’ has also funded paediatric first aid training for more than 1,000 people, to provide parents and carers with the knowledge and skills to potentially save their child’s life. The award for Charlotte coincides with the charity’s #DonutDay, marked on social media, remembering the day when Freddie was involved in the accident and left behind a half-eaten Donut at home, which aims to help break the taboo around discussing bereavement. The day also falls within National Grief Awareness Week, the nationwide campaign encouraging people to share their stories of grief and raising awareness of the support available for bereavement.
In a personal letter to Charlotte, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Today, as you remember the terrible accident that led to the loss of your little boy Freddie, I want to thank you for the extraordinary courage you have shown in helping other families who face the heartbreaking loss of a child.
“You have created a wonderful charity in Freddie’s name and your help for others is a lasting tribute to him.
“So as we mark National Grief Awareness Week, I am delighted to recognise your inspirational work by naming you as the UK’s 1543rd Point of Light.”
Charlotte said:
“I am absolutely blown away to have the work I am doing with ‘Freddie’s Wish’ and the National Grief Awareness Week campaign to be recognised. I feel truly humbled and gracious for you to even know about what I am doing, let alone acknowledge it, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. Over the last 6 years I have worked so hard to create a legacy in Freddie’s name and to receive this news on the anniversary of the accident that tragically took his life and on the day of our big campaign #Donutday, I am so grateful. You have put a big smile on a bereaved mummy’s face and for that, all I can say is, thank you!”
Pictured below: Charlotte’s son Freddie; Charlotte marking this year’s Donut Day; and below, with family and supporters, for last year’s Donut Day
