I am Susan Garner, co founder of The Luke and Marcus Trust.
From March 2020-2021 the country has been in and out of lockdown.
As a Trust we have managed to keep going through one year of the Pandemic, including three lockdowns, we are just coming out of the third lockdown and I think it would be fair to say that most people are hoping that there will be no more lockdowns. England are doing exceptionally well in rolling out the vaccination programme and I believe that all our members have now received their first jab and a couple even the second one as well. Those who have been shielding at home, which I know has been particularly hard, but with effect from the end of March they are now able to get out and about a bit more, well done them for hanging on in there.
We have only been able to meet up as a group once in the last year: 11 September 2020 in the Valley Gardens, Harrogate. We had a fabulous time taking a picnic and even a glass of bubbly to celebrate. The weather was kind to us and it remained dry, even if a little chilly.
Marilyn, also co-founder of the Trust, set up a WhatsApp group for the Trust so we have been able to keep in touch with each other on a daily basis. This has been a tremendous success with messages of support to each other and lots of funny slips which have been banded around, as well as some emotional ones. One of our Margaret’s, we have three, has been particularly good at coming up with the “funnies” to keep out spirits up.
In addition we have continued to send cards and flowers in memory of our children who sadly passed away as a result of drug/alcohol addiction. They are all very much missed, loved and remembered.
Unfortunately we have not been able to attend schools as previously, we are often asked to make a presentation to schools in the Yorkshire area, usually aimed at year 9 pupils, to inform and advise children of the risk of getting into drugs, particularly starting with Cannabis. We tell the young people of our children’s story and explain the damage they could do themselves and their mental health by using Cannabis. Also the devastation caused to the families. It is all very sad but we hope they will listen and maybe think twice before using drugs. Hopefully we can resume attending schools, especially as we have made a video, this can be viewed via this website and we hope it will enhance our talks delivered to the schools.
We are organising another picnic in the Valley Gardens, Harrogate May 2021 for all our members and here’s hoping the sun will shine on us!
It’s been a long time since we met up and I know that we are very much looking forward to May when, hopefully we can see each other again, socially distancing and no hugs, but plenty of love.
29/3/2021
