Bolton community helps family rebuild life after tragic loss

In October 2023, their lives changed forever when James Lloyd died suddenly at home due to an undiagnosed blood clot, leaving behind his wife and their two young children, Amelie, now 12, and Chester, now eight.

“The loss of James completely shattered our entire lives. It was so quick and unexpected. Everything changed in a heartbeat.

“He was an incredible husband and an amazing dad. He worked so hard so that one day we could have a more stable financial situation and he so wanted our children to have a better childhood than he did.”

Still paying the mortgage and bills on their family home as they prepare to sell it, they can no longer live there due to the traumatic nature of what happened and so have moved in with her parents.

These circumstances meant a Go Fund Me was set up to help the family with the additional costs in such a difficult time.

Something she had never considered until it was suggested by a friend, the fundraiser is incredibly successful and has made a huge difference to their lives.

You can donate to the fundraiser at the following link www.gofundme.com/f/a-bridge-to-our-next-chapter-help-the-lloyds-move-forward-3x8xj

She said: “It’s been amazing and overwhelming. I can’t express how much it’s helped, and I’m so blown away from the generosity.”

Despite the suffering they have endured since James’ passing, Mrs Lloyd emphasised how much her friends, family, and community in Bolton had helped her through her grief and supported their children.

Describing Bolton as a place where she and her children have been able to make friends and continue going to school, they have been slowly rebuilding their lives there.

She said: “Bolton quickly became our safety net, the kids moved to a school here and we’ve made friends. My parents live next to a park, so it’s been brilliant making friends with lots of dog walkers and their dogs! Both schools have been hugely supportive.”

By bridging this financial gap, Mrs Lloyd emphasised that the fundraising was helping the family on their way to starting a new chapter, bringing much-needed stability to their lives, and giving them the mental space to begin to heal.