My Dad contracted Covid in the week before the first lockdown, most likely while visiting a hospital to receive a cancer diagnosis at a time when there were no precautionary measures in place despite the virus’ rapid spread. I had been following the news of what was happening elsewhere and my Dad was the person I was most concerned about getting exposed. I'd woken up on the morning of the appointment in a cold sweat absolutely terrified and begging him not to go and ask for a phone appointment.

After he died on the 2nd of April, I felt an almost immediate need to respond by doing something. I couldn't understand why my family had tried so hard to protect him but it felt the government had done next to nothing. I spoke to a journalist about our experience and through the Facebook comments section connected with Matt who was in the exact same place. The rest I guess is history!

Professionally my experience is in the voluntary sector, with a particular focus on anti-poverty work. I was able to apply this experience in the set up phase of the group as an organisation, although I've had to take a bit of a step back in recent years while I grapple with early parenthood.

They say that grief is love with nowhere to go, and for me, the campaign has been a place so many of us have put that love for some incredibly special people. My Dad always looked out for the underdog and had an incredibly strong sense of right and wrong. I hope he'd be proud of what I've done in his name.