WHEN Caroline Meech first met Ruth Palmer, her life changed. At the time Caroline was in the grip of post-natal depression that was so severe she had contemplated suicide.
The two women struck up conversation on the school run before Ruth made her apologies saying she had to go as she was marking the birthday of her son Jethro who had died the year before.
“It was one of those moments that I just couldn’t quite take in what she was saying,” explained Caroline.
“There she was this woman who I couldn’t begin to imagine what she was going through, and there was me unable to find a way out of how I was feeling but who had what this women was grieving for.”
Ruth and Tony Palmer’s third child Jethro Courage died in his sleep aged one-and-a-half in March 2015.
Jethro Courage
It was in his name that the family set up the Courage Foundation UK, a charity that supports families with bereaved children by providing days out and annual passes.
The Foundation matches bereaved families who have suffered the death of a parent or child with annual passes and days out at theme parks to provide what they call ‘therapy through theme parks’ which are all funded by donations.
Meeting Ruth proved to be the turning point for Caroline as not only did she begin her recovery from her depression, but was so inspired by Ruth’s story and subsequent friendship that she is now an ambassador for the charity.
Along with volunteering with administrative work, Caroline is publishing her first children’s story book with proceeds going towards The Courage Foundation UK.
The book, You Can’t Be Friends With A Troll Dotti is a sequel to the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff and features a young girl called Dotti who discovers the truth behind the troll who lives at the bottom of her garden.
Published to mark World Book Day, celebrated on March 7, Caroline said she was inspired to give back to the charity.
Caroline, right, with Ruth and Boaz
Caroline, a mum of four from Chandler’s Ford said: “I just really wanted to give back to this amazing charity set up by this incredible family. We really want to help more families with children who are going through tragic experiences so anything we can raise will go towards that.
“The story of this girl is also one of courage as she sets out to find out the truth for herself and in doing so finds a really good friend, despite their differences.”
The book also features illustrations by local schoolboy Luke Bird, a Year 9 student at Crestwood Community School in Eastleigh who entered a competition to illustrate the book.
Caroline added: “I wanted to see how young people would interpret the character of Dotti and got some really lovely entries. It was great to see her character come to life.”
It is the second time Caroline has raised money through her writing, after the proceeds from her first book Sifting Sands, also raised nearly £1,000 for the charity which is now in its fourth year.
The idea of ‘therapy through theme parks’ was inspired by the family’s own experience of ‘choosing joy’ through the grief surrounding Jethro’s death, which tragically happened the day after Ruth gave birth to the couple’s fourth child Jubilee almost four years ago. They have also since had another child, Boaz.
Ruth said establishing the charity was based on their own experience of helping their children find the fun again after the loss of their sibling.
“It was a very difficult time,” Ruth explained, “There we had our new baby girl and at the same time we were grieving the loss of our little boy.
“A little while after, a friend gave us money which we used to pay for a day out at Paultons Park. It was one of the first times that we found we were all smiling and having fun. I remember turning to Tony and saying that we have to do this for other people.”
Last year the Courage Foundation paid for more than 500 tickets, annual passes and weekend breaks for families with bereaved children to enjoy. It costs an average of around £400 per family that applies to the Foundation, which means the charity is constantly looking for new ways to fundraise.
Luke Bird, Caroline Meech and Ruth Palmer with Otterbourne Primary school children
Ruth said: “We are so grateful for Caroline and her work as an ambassador and supporter of our charity. Her books are not only a great read but have also enabled us to support lots of families in their times of deepest need.”
For more information about the charity, find them at www.thecouragefoundation.uk. To order a copy of the book priced at £7.99, visit www.carolinemeechauthor.com.
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