My wife would describe the experience of having a child missing from the family as like having a knife stuck in you; it hurts constantly and until you know what happened, it stays there, agitating the wound. If you only knew, even if it was knowing the worst, then the knife would at last be pulled out and the wound could begin to gradually heal. It would be less painful but always leave a scar.
It is families like ours that are supported by the charity Missing People, both in practical terms through publicity campaigns and in emotional terms through support days and counselling services.
Missing People have started a fundraising campaign in Yorkshire using Glenys' and Andrew's pictures on 11th March 2013. Radio adverts, internet banners, newspapers, the Big Issue and other advertising spaces will all be used over a period of 3 weeks for this campaign.
I decided to help get the campaign off to a flying start by being sponsored to dye my hair pink - pink because it is the logo colour of the charity. To begin with I added an incentive that if I had over £500 in sponsorship I would also shave one half of my head to look even more ridiculous. I am delighted that the total is now almost £1,000 and that Stacey's barber shop, where Andrew used to go, is helping me out with this.
www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/donate/mum
Or if you prefer to sponsor Kevin looking ridiculous,
www.justgiving.com/Kevin-Gosden
Thank you to all who donate, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.