Community Unites for Grief Healing in the Never Forgotten Night Walk

Grief often arrives unexpectedly, leaving a profound impact on those affected. Emma Rock, a fundraising officer at the Irish Hospice Foundation, shares her deeply personal journey through loss and her commitment to helping others navigate their grief. In 2015, she faced the sudden death of her father, which marked the beginning of a challenging path filled with sorrow.

Emma Rock vividly remembers the moment her life changed forever. Her father passed away unexpectedly at the age of 76 while watching television. “I’ll never forget the phone call that woke me – my neighbour’s voice telling me to come home, ‘but it doesn’t look good,’” she recalls. The traumatic experience of rushing to find first responders working on her father left her feeling hollow, as if she was merely a shell of herself.

In the wake of her father’s death, Emma grappled with her own grief while witnessing her mother’s devastation. Sleep eluded her for months, prompting her to seek help from healthcare professionals and turn to various resources on grief. Despite these efforts, she felt isolated in her sorrow, longing for support that was not readily available.

The first Christmas without her father was particularly painful. To avoid the heartache of their empty home, Emma and her family opted for a hotel dinner. “When we arrived, the table had been set for eight. That empty chair was a cruel reminder of who was missing,” she reflects. This moment underlined the profound absence that loss creates in the lives of those left behind.

Tragedy struck again for Emma when her sister passed away less than a year later. The grief continued to compound with the death of her mother in the following year. Now, she finds solace in the belief that everyone requires understanding and support to coexist with their grief. This philosophy inspired the creation of the Never Forgotten Night Walk, an event hosted by the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Scheduled to take place at 17:00 on a November evening, the walk invites participants across Ireland to honour their loved ones by walking, jogging, or running a distance of 5km. Each participant receives a personalised t-shirt featuring the names of those they are remembering, symbolising shared remembrance and healing. The event supports the foundation’s mission to ensure that no one faces death or grief alone.

Emma describes walking as a therapeutic practice. “It’s a space where I can reflect, cry if I need to, smile at a memory, or simply feel close to those I’ve lost,” she explains. The Irish Hospice Foundation’s National Bereavement Support Line also plays a crucial role in providing comfort to those grieving. This service offers a compassionate voice for individuals struggling to articulate their feelings during one of life’s most challenging experiences.

Reflecting on her own struggles, Emma expresses pride in the existence of such support services. “I often think back to those first months after my dad died, when I couldn’t sleep and didn’t know where to turn. I didn’t have someone who could simply listen, who could help me make sense of what I was feeling,” she states.

As the Never Forgotten Night Walk approaches, Emma is reminded of her journey through grief and the importance of community. “If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: You are not alone. There are others who understand, who care, and who will walk beside you,” she says. Through this event, participants will not only honour their loved ones but also find a collective strength in shared loss.

“Grief doesn’t end with a funeral. It stays with us,” Emma notes. Each step taken during the night walk will serve as a tribute to those who have touched their lives, a reminder that love endures beyond death. Emma and countless others will carry their cherished memories with them, walking together under the night sky in solidarity and remembrance.