In this post, Luke shares what it was like to lose his dad, Angelo, at just 21 during his final year of university, and how that loss quietly shaped the years that followed. Luke writes about learning to sit with grief rather than outrun it, the importance of friends who stayed without trying to fix him, and his experience of creating the tooyoungtogrieve community.

In this blog, Chelsea shares her experience of losing both her parents at a young age and the profound impact it has had on her life. She reflects on the shock of her mum’s rapid cancer diagnosis and passing, the responsibility she took on as a young carer, and later losing her dad to dementia.

In this blog, Jack reflects on losing his dad as an only child and how that experience can intensify the isolation of grief. He explores the assumptions around sibling support, the uniquely personal nature of loss, and why having siblings doesn’t guarantee shared grief or understanding.

In this blog, Chris reflects on losing his mum to secondary cancer at the age of 24 and the unexpected ways grief affected his body, mind and daily life. Chris also writes about how conversations with others who are grieving helped reshape his relationship with loss, and how this led him and his partner, Emily Simpson, to create shared spaces for grief through food, music and art.

In this blog, Abi shares her experience of losing her mum suddenly and the impact this has had on her life. She reflects on the shock of sudden loss, the pressure to stay “productive” in grief, and the isolation that can come with being the eldest child after a parent dies.

In this blog, Nat reflects on how grief changes the meaning of “normal” after the sudden loss of his mum. He explores how, over time, life continues and others move forward, while grief quietly lingers beneath everyday moments and conversations. Nat shares how triggers can emerge unexpectedly, why the second year of grief can feel especially confronting, and the importance of communicating clearly with friends about what support looks like.

In this blog, Jack shares his experience of losing his dad to a rare, progressive muscle-wasting condition. He reflects on the concept of “trauma in slow motion”, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the complexity of grief both before and after loss.

In this blog, Freddie shares his experience of losing both his parents to cancer before the age of 23 and how his understanding of grief has evolved over time. He reflects on the differences between grieving as a child and as a young adult, the lack of support often available in your twenties, and the pressure to keep up with peers.

In this blog, Millie reflects on losing her dad to cancer when she was a child and growing up as a young carer. Millie also writes about carrying forward the lessons her dad taught her, finding joy amid grief, and how her experiences now guide her as she supports her partner through illness.

In this blog, Emily shares her experience of losing her dad suddenly while she was at university and learning how to navigate early adulthood without him.

“My mum and dad are so much more than cancer. They gave me life and I will strive to keep theirs alive.”

In this blog, Ellie reflects on “growing around grief” as she navigates a major milestone, starting a new job without her dad. She shares how big changes can resurface loss, why they can feel so triggering, and how grief has shaped her emotional resilience.

“I’ve learned that it can be isolating, and I don’t want anyone to feel alone in this pain like I did.  Growing around grief has been an emotional, chaotic, rollercoaster.”

Lea lost her mum, and with that loss came the feeling of losing half of her racial and cultural identity. Lea also reminds us that identity doesn’t vanish with the person who nurtured it. She dances like her mum, laughs like her mum, and carries her culture in the small, everyday things she continues to honour.

“But when I think of my grief as tangible, a thing, almost, I’m reminded it is just that; an embodiment of love held for someone that no longer has a place to go. For a while, this space was huge, almost swallowed me alive.”

With time, Eleanor found her way back to life. She returned to university, to friends, to family, learning to live differently, more bravely, and always with her mum’s love carried forward.

Jasleen is honouring her dad in a huge way, she’s running the London Marathon for us! And she has shared her story of losing her dad suddenly and her grief journey so far.

Krina lost her dad suddenly at 19, a loss that changed her life in ways she never imagined. She finds herself laughing more than crying, holding tightly to the funny memories they shared and Krina has found running a helpful space for her in her grief.

Mia lost her dad, Stuart, in June 2024. Mia delves into her journey with grief and anxiety, how it showed up for her and how she has learnt, with support, to manage it.