PENARTH mum Helen Jenkins is preparing to tackle Wales’s most demanding mountains in memory of her seven-year-old son.

The unexpected passing of her eldest child introduced the Jenkins family to the Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice bereavement services, which Helen aims to raise awareness for in her fundraiser.

Helen said: “As a group of either bereaved mums or mums of children with serious illnesses we are all in a club we didn't want to join.

“But, here we are, taking on this challenge together the same way we approach our lives - with determination and courage!”

Despite her tremendous loss, Helen has achieved a strong “sense of belonging and shared purpose” through her association with the Mums V Mountains team.

This collective spirit has empowered Helen to tackle this challenge in recognition of Tŷ Hafan’s services, especially considering the support her children received while grieving the loss of their brother.

She has expressed gratitude for Tŷ Hafan’s ‘Super Siblings’ service which, according to Helen, provided her children with an environment to work through the loss of their brother in a “safe, supportive and fun way”.

Now, she hopes to give back to the organisation that supported her family through this time.

The Tŷ Hafan website expands on this saying “siblings have an opportunity to engage with siblings facing the same worries and concerns”.

This sense of community has been massively supportive for Helen’s family: “it gave my children the opportunity to connect with others through an often-unspoken understanding”.

Penarth Times:

Eight mums are aiming to conquer Yr Wyddfa, Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen-y-Fan on Sunday all in one day on May 7

As a way of giving back, Helen’s teenage children have volunteered with the ‘Super Siblings’ service, offering support to children from ages three to eleven.

Through this experience, her children were able to help those who have experienced similar loss navigate those difficult emotions.

Helen commends her children’s strong sense of “resilience and compassion” and would recommend the “wonderful work” that Tŷ Hafan do to any family in need of support.

To support the Mums v Mountains for Tŷ Hafan go to their Mums v Mountains JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mumsVmountains?invite=true