When Karen and Paul Ledsham agreed to tell their story to promote Claire House Children’s Hospice on BBC’s Children In Need back in 2016, the couple, both 43 from Haydock, had no idea it would lead to the holiday of a lifetime.
The couple’s story about the loss of both their children; Abigail, who died shortly before her second birthday in 2008 and Harrison, who passed away in 2015 following a battle with bone cancer, and the support they received from Claire House, touched the heart of the nation.
Over £8,000 was raised for the couple through a Just Giving page to send them on a dream holiday.
“It had been on Harrison’s bucket list to go to Jamaica because he loved reggae and Bob Marley. Before he died he made us promise we could go and do some of the things on his bucket list he never got to do”, explains Karen.
Thanks to generous donations from the public, the couple enjoyed a five-star all-inclusive trip to the Caribbean island, swimming with dolphins and taking a trip on a catamaran named Cool Runnings, Harrison’s favourite film.
Karen and Paul also chose the trip to mark a very special moment in their marriage, a tribute to the journey they’ve been on.
“We always wanted to renew our vows when we reached our 25th wedding anniversary” Karen continues. “But after all we’ve been through, we thought we’d do it this year, with just the two of us. Well, we like to think the four of us.”
Karen walked down the aisle carrying a bouquet of yellow flowers, Harrison’s favourite coloured blooms.
“What made our vow renewal even more special is that we’d just been accepted to be foster parents, and we wanted to celebrate that.
“Fostering is something we’d always wanted to do, and was something Harrison had asked us to do. After Abigail died, he said we have lots of toys and things and it would be nice to help others who need it. He was very thoughtful. We know we would have his blessing.”
The couple have since welcomed a little girl into their family in their new role as foster parents.
“It’s early days but everything is going well” continues Karen.
To read more about the Ledsham family, visit Harrison and Abigail’s Story.
