St Christopher’s Candle project shines a light

When 24-year-old Aaron Stokes was stabbed to death five years ago, his family were understandably devastated. His sudden and tragic death tore their world apart.

“As a family we were at crisis point”, says Marilyn, Aaron’s Mum. “I was at a loss of what to do to hold my family together “. In desperate need of help, Marilyn and her husband Elvis turned to St Christopher’s.

The Candle Project has been providing bereavement support for children, young people and their families since 1998.  The project offers one-to-one and group help to youngsters and their relatives, to help them come to terms with bereavement. We support around 200 children each year, including Aaron’s sister Ceyrone and brother Durone.

Both are members of the project’s Young peoples Support Group, which brings together children going through similar experiences of losing someone close to them. Eighteen year old Ceyrone says “It helps there are other people like you going through the same thing. That’s what made me feel like I didn’t have to keep things inside”.

Five years after Aaron’s death, the pair still come to the group. Durone, 17, adds “You express a lot of feelings in the session…you’re around people you feel secure and safe with and who understand.  You recognise after going that it is something you need”.

The Candle Project is funded entirely by donations from supporters.  Without them the project simply wouldn’t exist.

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