A Newbury family has shared their story of loss with a local filmmaker, in a bid to raise awareness of the charity that supported them through their darkest days.
The short film has now been entered into The Smiley Charity Film Awards, the world’s largest cause-based film campaign.
But they now need your help to ensure they make it to the final stage – which will offer huge publicity benefits to the small charity.
Daisy’s Dream is a small, Berkshire-based charity that helps children and young people who have been affected by bereavement, by supporting them in preparing for a loss or working with them following the death of someone important to them.
It proved invaluable to Sarah Franklin-Wilson when her husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The family visited Paul every day in hospital
The final shortlist is determined by public votes, so the charity is now relying on the public to help them get to the finals at the O2 in London in March.
Mrs Franklin-Wilson and her daughter Annabelle bravely shared their story in the video in the hope that it will increase awareness of the charity and offer hope and support to others going through the same experience as they did.
“I first made contact with Daisy’s Dream when I was told my husband only had two weeks to live,” Mrs Franklin-Wilson said.
Paul and Sarah spoke to their daughters about Paul’s illnessPaul during his treatment
“My priority was my children and how I should tell them daddy is dying and isn’t going to live much longer.
“As fearful and unimaginable as this felt, Daisy’s Dream guided me gently through this time and continued to support my four children after Paul died, visiting them in school and building a delicate relationship with them.
“Fundraising for this incredible charity is imperative. Knowing that they were offering my children indispensable and specialised support at that crucial time when I felt overwhelmed, and I didn’t always have the strength to; meant that I gave myself more time to grieve.
The family on a trip to the beachPaul with his daughters Poppy and AnnabelleSarah and her daughters
“Without the funds raised they wouldn’t be able to help families like ours.”
Laura Lewis, CEO of Daisy’s Dream, said the charity works with around 700 children and 800 adults every year.
“The support we provide is free of charge and we receive no statutory funding,” she added.
“The film that we have entered into The Smiley Film Awards illustrates just how vital the work we do is and the difference that we make, in the short and longer term to the lives of families we support.
“Telling this story is important to not just raise awareness of the work that we are doing at Daisy’s Dream but the challenges faced by all bereaved young people.
Paul and Sarah on their wedding dayPaul during his treatment
“One in 29 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they are 16 and we want anyone that is affected by this to know that they aren’t alone.
“Huge thanks also to Sarah and Annabelle for being so brave and telling their story.”
Newbury-based Anna Harvey, a freelance film and content director who produced, edited and directed the short film, said she felt it was a really important story to tell and that the exposure the charity could get from the awards was invaluable.
“I wanted to create a film to tell the Wilson’s story to highlight the importance of the charity Daisy’s Dream and how crucial they are in helping families who are facing bereavement,” she added.
“I believe Sarah’s story is so moving and demonstrates the huge difference that the charity made to her family whilst they were going through the loss of Paul.”
To vote for Daisy’s Dream to make it to the finals just click here. The closing date is January 29.