Remember a loved one this Father’s Day with Barnardo’s campaign

Barnardo’s is giving people the opportunity to make a dedication in memory of their loved ones this Father’s Day.

The Barnardo’s Father’s Day campaign allows people to remember all father figures who have passed away by uploading a written tribute and photo onto a special dedication page and making a donation to the children’s charity in their memory.

The campaign has already been supported by long-term fundraiser Simon Court from Tunbridge Wells whose father, Peter Court, was a Barnardo’s boy.

Peter was born in 1922 and was in the Barnardo’s Auxillary Boarding Out Scheme — an early fostering programme — before being adopted.  He then joined the Royal Navy and served throughout the Second World War. After the war he became a teacher and Headmaster for 21 years as well as running the Pestalozzi Children’s Village for five years before retiring.

Father of one, Simon said: “My Dad was an amazing man who spent his whole life in service to others.  When he was most vulnerable, Barnardo’s was there for him and gave him a chance in life.  

“I am supporting the Barnardo’s Father’s Day campaign in memory of my father who I loved very much and out of gratitude to Barnardo’s.  Despite his start in life, and perhaps because of it, he made a huge difference to the lives of many, many people.”

Simon has been a supporter of Barnardo’s for five years having completed two London Marathons for the children’s charity as well as the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon and the Royal Parks Half Marathon – raising over £20,000 to date.  The money Simon raised from this year’s London Marathon went to Barnardo’s Meadows School in Tunbridge Wells, which caters for pupils with Special Educational Needs and where Simon’s wife, Jane, is a governor.

Simon continued: “Running for Barnardo’s in the London Marathon on the streets my Dad was born created a connection that’s hard to put into words. The training required hard work, focus and courage, all qualities he had in abundance.  It helped me to grieve his loss and to celebrate his life.  This is all part of giving back I guess, to a charity which is close to my heart.

“It really does mean something to raise money for Barnardo’s.  I am blown away by the variety of work they do from fostering and adoption to tackling sexual exploitation.  It is really great to see the impact of the fundraising, especially seeing the difference it makes locally to the children at Meadows School”.

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “This is a great opportunity to pay tribute to father figures who have passed away, while supporting vulnerable children and young people.

“We are grateful for Simon’s continued support in memory of his father, and for the support of everyone contributing to the Barnardo’s Father’s Day Campaign.”

To find out more, please visit https://barnardos.memorypage.org/fathersday

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