On 22nd November it will be two years since our beloved son and brother Matthew died.

Two years!  Such a long time – and yet no time at all.   We are remembering Matthew’s anniversary with Autumn flowers displayed in St.Saviours Church, St. Albans.

And we are still debating the words that should go on his gravestone!  It’s not easy to capture the hugeness of the short life Matthew lived, and the joy he brought to us.  But his mother Sara has captured him perfectly. These will be his words: “I Chose to Shine”.     

After Matthew died, we set up Matthew’s Butterfly Legacy so that he could continue to touch people’s lives - especially those with disabilities.  Our friends have been wonderfully generous. We have raised over £12,000 so far, funds that have been split between charities helping people with physical and mental health problems, or life-threatening illnesses.

Here is how the funds have been used, along with other Matthew-inspired projects of the last year:

Kampala School for the Physically Disabled.  (http://www.ksph.or.ug) The school, with which Sara has had a long association, provides residential education to children with physical and mental disabilities.   In 2014, refurbishment of the school’s refectory was completed, helped by last year’s contribution from Matthew’s Butterfly Legacy. The donation also funded an additional project to strip asbestos from the roof.

Rural Care at Aldenham Country Park (http://ruralcare.wordpress.com/rural-care-at-aldenham/) helps young adults with learning disabilities. Sara works there two days a week (see her cow-milking skills!). Matthew’s Butterfly Legacy paid for a walkway providing wheelchair access the rural care headquarters.

Helen and Douglas House Children’s Hospice, Oxford  (http://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk)  became a second home to Matthew over many years. They also bring together bereaved families, who can talk and understand each other – an incredible support. They also run a siblings group which organised a 50km fund-raising canoe trip on the Thames in July. The canoeists, Peter included, raised over £5,000 for the hospice.

Make a Wish Foundation (http://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/) gives magical holidays and experiences for children with life-threatening illnesses. They took Matthew and all of us on an amazing holiday in Florida four years ago, where he swam with dolphins. This summer Anthony ran in the 10km X-runner Mud Run in Nottingham, raising over £500 for Make-a-Wish.

And finally.....Matthew’s Butterfly Legacy remains active.  Thank you to our friends for your support,

Adrian, Sara, Anthony and Peter