Losing a loved one is never easy. You feel their absence in familiar routines, quiet moments and all the little things you once shared. Grief is different for everyone, and there is no right way or timeline for moving through it. But when the time feels right, doing something to honour their memory can offer comfort, connection and purpose. Even a simple activity that they enjoyed in life can inspire you to do something meaningful.
Perhaps walking was something you always enjoyed together. There was a familiar route you both knew well, a place where you stopped for coffee or a view that always made them pause.
One day, you can walk that route again with a few friends and ask people to support PSPA. As you walk, someone may remember a favourite saying. Someone else may share a moment you had almost forgotten. There is laughter, even a few tears, and a feeling that the person you are remembering is still very much part of your life.
This is what fundraising in memory of a loved one can look like. It is not only about raising money. It is about celebrating a life, bringing people together and turning the love you still carry into something that can help others on a similar journey with PSP or CBD.
A way to continue their story
We all remember our loved ones differently.
It might be their kindness, their humour or their warmth. Sometimes, it is simply the way they made us feel.
We also remember them for everything that they loved in life. It could be gardening, music, baking or long Sunday walks.
Choosing to fundraise in memory of someone can help those qualities and stories live on. You could organise a plant sale, bring people together for a coffee morning or afternoon tea, or even do a sponsored walk or run. The fundraising activity itself does not need to be elaborate. What makes it special is its connection to the person you are doing it for.
Turning a difficult time into something positive
There is no simple way to navigate life after someone important is no longer beside us. Some days, memories bring comfort. On others, they can feel too much to carry.
An in-memory fundraiser can provide a gentle sense of purpose. It gives you something positive to work towards in your own time and in your own way.
Planning an event, taking on a challenge or creating a fundraising page will not change what has happened. But it can give you peace and happiness, even if for a short time. It can help you express that your loved one mattered, their life made a difference, and that difference will continue.
And you only need to do it when you feel ready. You may want to do something soon, or you might choose a birthday, anniversary or another date that holds special meaning. The right time is the one that feels right for you.
Helping another family feel less alone
When Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or Corticobasal Degeneration enters a family’s life, it can bring many challenges, uncertainty and anticipatory grief. These rare neurological conditions have no cure and can affect movement, balance, speech, swallowing, vision, thinking and behaviour. Their impact is often felt by the whole family.
Money raised in someone’s memory can help PSPA provide trusted information, practical support and ways for people to connect with others who understand.
It can also support greater awareness of PSP & CBD, help us campaign for better care and faster, more accurate diagnosis, and contribute to more research into these conditions.
You may never meet the people helped by your fundraising. They may be a family looking for information after a diagnosis, a carer who needs someone to listen or a person who finally feels understood after discovering PSPA.
But your loved one’s story can become part of theirs. Through your support, another family can know that they do not have to face PSP or CBD alone.
Remembering someone through volunteering
Not every tribute needs a fundraising target.
For some people, volunteering in memory of a loved one feels like the most appropriate choice. Giving your time or skills can be a powerful way to remember your loved one and make their journey mean something positive.
You might volunteer because PSPA supported your family and you would like to give something back. You may want to help other people avoid the isolation or uncertainty you experienced. Or perhaps your loved one was someone who always made time for others, and volunteering feels like a reflection of their best qualities.
PSPA has a range of volunteering opportunities. You could help at an event, support a local group, raise awareness, become a befriending volunteer or take part in flexible micro-volunteering activities.
Whether you give a few minutes, a few hours or make a regular commitment, your time can help someone affected by PSP or CBD feel heard, informed and supported.
Finding a way that feels like them
There is no right or wrong way to remember someone.
Think about what brought them happiness. What did they care about? What would make them smile? The answer may help you find an idea that feels personal.
You could:
- Walk a route that was special to them.
- Organise an afternoon tea with their favourite cakes.
- Hold a quiz based on their favourite topics.
- Run, cycle or swim a meaningful distance.
- Sell plants, crafts, books or homemade food.
- Celebrate their birthday with donations to PSPA.
- Take part in PSPA’s Pathway to Progress.
- Create an online fundraising page or Tribute Fund.
- Volunteer at an event or support group.
- Give your time through a flexible PSPA volunteering role.
You do not need to organise a large event or raise a particular amount. A small gathering can be just as special as a major challenge. A few hours spent volunteering can make a genuine difference.
What matters is that it feels right for you.
Take a small step forward
Perhaps you already know what you would like to do. Perhaps you only know that you want to do something.
Either is a good place to begin.
You could speak to a family member, write down a few ideas or contact PSPA’s Fundraising Team for a friendly conversation. We can help you explore the different ways to get involved and support you in choosing an activity that reflects the person you are remembering.
One walk, one gathering or one hour of your time can be the beginning of something lasting.
Their story will always be yours to remember. But what you do next can also bring hope and support to someone else battling these rare and challenging conditions.
By choosing to fundraise or volunteer in memory of a loved one, you can celebrate their life, continue making a difference as they did, and help create a better future for people living with PSP & CBD.
