Quiz teams invited to support Hampshire bereavement charity

Butterflies Bereavement Support provides subsidised counselling sessions and free telephone support to those who have lost loved ones and are struggling to cope.

The charity was founded in 2016 and qualified counsellors offer counselling sessions and trained volunteers run drop-in groups in return for donations. Money raised from the charity quiz will subsidise more sessions and help more people in the area.

The charity also offers a valuable telephone buddy service, where trained volunteers provide weekly telephone calls to grief-stricken adults who are lonely or isolated. Last year, the charity faced near closure but was saved by a crowdfunding campaign.

Gary Parker will be hosting the charity quiz and he is a local business owner who spent four years as a volunteer Friendship Buddy to 77-year old Ken Payne from Winchester. Ken lost his wife, Pam in 2020 and Gary spoke to him every week to ask how he was feeling and offer support as he knew that Ken really missed her. They became good friends and Gary helped him throughout Covid and after the pandemic. Ken sadly passed away earlier this year.

“Helping Ken was a real pleasure.” said Gary. “He was a lovely man and I miss speaking to him. I know his family were really grateful for my support, especially during COVID.

I will be hosting the charity quiz for Butterflies Bereavement Support as the charity is close to my heart and I want to raise as much money for them as possible. They do an amazing job and they are always looking for volunteers so, if you can spare an hour or so each week, please consider supporting someone like Ken who needs a friendly chat to help them with their loss. You could be the only person they speak to all week.”

Julie Lamont, Butterflies Bereavement Support chair said, “We are really grateful to Gary and all our volunteers. They provide valuable support to so many local people and make a real difference.

"Since Covid we've seen more cases of people in desperate need. Many still feel great guilt and shame from not being able to see their loved one at the time of their death and we will see this for years to come.

"There is always a waiting list for support and the charity quiz is a great way to fundraise, so please come along. It will be a lot of fun and we will have a raffle too, so you could be lucky and win a prize!”

Teams of up to eight people can book a table by phoning the pub on 01489 571111. If you need support or would like to know more about Butterflies Bereavement Support, please visit the website: bflies.org.uk. or phone 02381 550066. If you would like to volunteer, please email [email protected].

Gary Parker has hosted charity quizzes for many years, raising over £26,000 to date. Local charities that have benefitted from his support include Cash for Kids, Abby’s Heroes, George’s Rockstars, Gosport And Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) and the Kirsty Louise Streek Foundation. He also raised over £1,000 for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal last year.

He hosts a weekly pub quiz at the Sir Joseph Paxton pub on Wednesdays and he also runs his own digital marketing and social media company. You can contact him at Gary Parker Digital Marketing & Media or email [email protected].