Elena

Cruse Scotland’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, Elena, is abseiling 100ft from the Falkirk Wheel to raise money for the charity, but also in memory of her late husband.

Elena shares her personal experience of grief and how the loss of her husband changed her life.

My name is Elena. My husband Derek died in 2020.

"How do you deal with that?” and “How do you get over that?” are questions I have been asked many times.

The death of a spouse is utterly devastating. Numbing. Life as you know it suddenly comes to an end, and the grief can be overwhelming. 

You grieve for the person you have lost, the future life you envisioned with them that will no longer happen, and the loss of the part of you that was enmeshed with them. The fear of “what do I do now?” can be paralysing.

Your identity is irrevocably changed by their death. You are, literally, shaken to your core and have to find a new way of living.

You deal with it one day at a time, by putting one foot in front of the other. You never get “over” it; you just learn to live with it.

Having the right support network of people who will take the time to simply sit with you in your grief, listen to you, give you their time and walk alongside you as you navigate your way through your new reality is crucial. 

Professional counselling

Access to professional counselling has a direct impact on helping the bereaved and can be an invaluable component of their support network. This is where Cruse Scotland, Scotland's bereavement charity, comes in.

My own experience of bereavement led me to wonder if there was something I could do to help others who have been bereaved.

And so, I found myself drawn to volunteering with Cruse Scotland, whose mission is simple: no-one should suffer alone. 

I Chair Cruse Scotland’s Board of Trustees and I am consistently bowled over by the dedication and commitment of everyone who works with organisation to help the bereaved. 

Please donate what you can

To help Cruse Scotland continue to deliver vital support to people in need, I hope to raise funds by abseiling from the Falkirk Wheel.

Please donate what you can. It really does make a difference. My sons have promised they will be there to catch me if I fall! I hope to make them, and their late dad, proud. 

To support my Falkirk Wheel Abseil Challenge, please click here.