Childless Parents Newsletter, Winter 2020

Newsletter for Childless Parents | www.tcf.org.uk 4 a donation to CCF to help protect children, a subject very close to his heart after his own childhood difficulties. “In his letter to me, which we found, he asked if we could give some money to Cambodian Children’s Fund because he felt that children need protection,” says Barbara. Julian had first come across CCF and founder Scott Neeson on the internet a year or so before. He was, says his mother, always looking for inspirational people to give him hope with his own struggles and she remembers him telling her about “this amazing guy” working with children in Cambodia. After Julian’s death, CCF organised a Buddhist ceremony 100 days after his passing. Barbara was unable to attend but watched a video of the moving event. Barbara carried out her son’s wish. Thanks to Julian, a new library was built at CCF’s Prek Toil satellite school in his memory, replacing a cramped tiny area with a larger safe space where children can study, relax and read the new selection of books that the donation also bought. Earlier this year, Barbara made the trip to Cambodia and CCF for the first time to visit the library that Julian built. She was accompanied by her sister, Ingrid, who as Julian’s aunt, also wanted to see what his wish had achieved. Barbara has had to overcome tremendous difficulties to reach that point. Shortly after Julian died, her husband became ill and died six months later. Barbara herself was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed surgery and treatment. Being hit by such an emotional tidal wave would floor most. And while it has taken its toll on her, Barbara’s resilience, inner strength and absolute determination to do right by her son has driven her forward. Being able to see with her own eyes what Julian has given CCF, through his wish, is a ray of light in what has mostly been a dark world since Julian’s loss. There are splashes of colour on the new school library walls, little touches of Julian and of things that he loved, such as nature and exploring. Catching the eye is a photograph of a painting, of vivid blues, framed in black, shows a cyclist riding through a wood carpeted with autumnal leaves and what look like bluebells, dancing in the breeze. The original painting was done by a friend of Barbara’s. Julian loved mountain biking. Now a “ Being able to see with her own eyes what Julian has given CCF, through his wish, is a ray of light in what has mostly been a dark world since Julian’s loss.