I WOULD like to thank all those people who supported the collection held at Sainsbury's supermarket in Kidderminster, on Saturday, September 4 on behalf of PEAL (Parents Experiencing Adult Loss). The amount raised was £73.25.

This money will go directly to enable PEAL to give support to parents throughout Worcestershire who are grieving the death of a child over the age of 16, and adult siblings.

The death of a child at any age is devastating. When an adult child dies parents are faced with the loss of their long-term relationship with them, as well as the loss of the future they expected for them.

The same applies to adult siblings, who are confronted by their own grief, that of their parents, their own mortality, and the impact of the death on their place within the family, as well as the family's future.

Grief is the normal response to loss, but we all react differently.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but grief can be complicated and confusing.

PEAL is a free, county-wide service offering confidential one-to-one support, parent and sibling support groups, and a helpline which is staffed on Tuesdays from 7.30pm until 9.30pm and Fridays from 3.30pm until 5.30pm.

At all other times there is an answering service to take calls.

Anyone seeking help can telephone us on 01905 72300.

ANGELA GERRARD

Support Services Manager, PEAL,

St Swithuns Instutute

The Trinity

Worcester