In 2023, the collaborative work between Specialist Palliative Care and Children's Services came into fruition, a new pre-child bereavement resource called My Forever Box which was supported by CHFT Charity. My Forever Box is a personal memory making box to enable a child to process the death of a significant adult or sibling. The box aims to support the child and adult, enabling the pre bereaved child to process what is happening to their loved one, process grief, initiating conversations regarding death and dying in a sensitive and timely manner. 

Thanks to kind donations, CHFT Charity can continue supporting this impactful project. Mark Farrar's family and friends are a handful of supporters who so kindly raised funds in support of My Forever Boxes, supporting families who are going through bereavement. 

Mark sadly died after a very short illness on March 7th, 2024. During Mark's time in hospital, he was supported by the staff on Ward 22 and the hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team, where his wife, Michelle, and children, Ben and Beth, also received support. 

Family and friends at Mark's funeral, at the Wakefield Minster, raised £103 which was to be kindly donated to CHFT Charity, in aid of the Specialist Palliative Care Team at CHFT. 

Later in the summer, the team received a surprise visit from Michelle, Ben and a couple of Mark's shooting pals from Huddersfield Practical Shooting Club, which Mark was part of. They held a charity fundraiser to support the My Forever Box project and raised an amazing amount of £1,131.

Michelle said: "Mark loved being outdoors, he was a very adventurours spirit with lots of hobbies, such as rock climbing, shooting and exploring. He would be proud to know that his son is still involved at Huddersfield Practical Shooting. 

"In his professional life, Mark worked as a Telecommunication Engineer at Splice UK within Morrisons Head Office, where he was cherished and respected by many. His absence is still felt; even a year after his passing, they have not replaced him, and his desk remains untouched. The team at Splice established the 'Mark Farrar Award' for their annual awards to honour individuals who go above and beyond, just like Mark did every day. 

"It's heartwarming to hear that Mark's legacy lives on and that the donations in his memory are providing support to families in their time of need. The Specialist Palliative Care Team are brillient, filled with compassion, support and care." 

So far, My Forever Boxes have supported over 150 families across Kirkless and Calderdale, including children whose significant adults have died, as well as siblings of Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood. The Specialist Pallative Care Team, alongside the boxes, are winners for the 2023 CHuFT Awards in the Work Together Get Results category as well as Nursing Times Award finalists in 2024. 

If you wish to donate to this project, please visit You’re donating to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity.