A midnight walk shaped by love, memory and an unexpected friendship

An unexpected friendship begins

This year will feel different. The grief is still there – quieter, perhaps, but no less real. And alongside it is something unexpected: a friendship that began in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Leah Dawes was the funeral director who supported Louise and her family after Dave died. From their first meeting, she brought a calm, steady presence at a time when everything felt overwhelming and unfamiliar.

“Having had no experience of dying or death I didn’t know what to expect when we were meeting the funeral directors. And I kind of just thought it would be someone dressed all in black looking like someone from the Addams Family. But Leah was the complete opposite, she was so lovely and smiley.

“When someone dies it is such a bizarre world that you just get immersed in. You’ve got no experience, no reference point. You have to deal with things that have never crossed your mind like when someone dies, what happens, where do they go?

“I’d always thought of death as something really scary and sinister. Leah completely changed that for me. She made the process so clear, she just explained it all. She was bright and smiling, while also really empathetic. It was like a friend walking through the door and handling everything. And I totally trusted her from the first moment.”

In the weeks that followed, they spoke almost daily. What started as professional support slowly became something more personal. They discovered shared experiences, similar family lives, and a natural ease in each other’s company. After the funeral, they made a simple decision to stay in touch and that connection has since grown into a genuine and lasting friendship.

“She was like a beacon of light in a really, really dark time. It’s strange how you meet people sometimes,” Louise reflects. “But I think you can be brought together at the hardest times, and something good can still come from it.”

Now, as they prepare to walk side by side, their reasons are deeply connected. For Louise, it is for her dad, for his memory, his cheeky sense of humour, his love of family life, and the countless moments she still holds onto. For Leah, it is in recognition of the care she sees every day, and the difference St Luke’s makes to families just like Louise’s. Together, they want to give something back.

“Being part of the St Luke’s community means everything,” Louise says. “Even though what happened was so painful, it’s comforting to know that it can live on in a positive way – by helping other families when they need it most.”

On Friday 10 July, as they step out into the night, Louise and Leah won’t just be walking a route. They’ll be walking a shared story, one shaped by grief, compassion, and an unexpected friendship that turned one of life’s hardest chapters into something quietly hopeful. You can sponsor Louise and Leah here.