Events taking place in Bucks, Beds and Herts to commemorate the lives lost to COVID
The Day of Reflection will see communities come together across the country
The lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered today through a series of events organised today (March 3) across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
The event has been led by Marie Curie, the UK's leading end-of-life charity supporting those with terminal illnesses, and their loved ones.
The pandemic left hundreds across the three counties mourning their loved ones.
To remember them, a memorial service will be held at Christ the Cornerstone Church in Milton Keynes, at Parish Church of All Saints in Houghton Regis, and a wall of reflection will be put up at the Marie Curie shop in Bedford.
Executive Director for Research and Policy at Marie Curie, Sam Royston, who is based in Hertfordshire and will be attending one of the memorial services held this Sunday, spoke to Greatest Hits Radio about the importance of the Day of Reflection.
He said: "As we know the COVID-19 pandemic was a tragedy that touched the lives of every person across the UK, and for those who faced bereavement through the pandemic, the impact was profound and likely to be lifelong."
"Remembering's somebody's death is also remembering their life."
"An opportunity for reflection and remembrance is a really important way of providing that collective sense of community to support people who have been bereaved."
The main aim for all events taking place across the country is to bring communities together and to help those who grieve their loss.
Mr Royston said: "Of course for many people who lost loved ones, the deaths of people who were close to them will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
"Remembering's somebody's death is also remembering their life."
Nearly all British children experience a bereavement by the age of sixteen and an estimated 16,100 children experienced the death of a parent from COVID-19 associated causes between March 2020 and February 2023.
In addition to adults experiencing losses, over 16,000 children experienced bereavement a parent caused by or COVID-19 o associated causes between March 2020 and February 2023.
Marie Curie is raising awareness of grief amongst children, and is hoping for schools in England to include grief education more commonly in their curricula.