YOUR Worcester News has launched an appeal to help the Noah's Ark Trust, which helps bereaved children, raise £1m to buy a house or property so it can expand its services and have a permanent base.

Today reporter Claire Fry talks to a student who was so impressed with the charity's help, he decided to give something back.


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TRYING to come to terms with your father committing suicide must be a heavy burden to bear - and something many of us couldn't begin to understand.

At the age of 11, Ben Cross of Colwall, near Malvern, found out first-hand the effect such a tragedy can have on a family.

But it was the help of Worcester-based bereavement charity Noah's Ark that kept him going and gave him the determination to help others who have gone through similar experiences.

Mr Cross, now aged 20 and a student at Cardiff studying social policy and criminology, says the support he received from Noah's Ark following the death of his dad, John, helped both him and his mum Jenni.

"While they helped me with my feelings, I think it helped my mum just as much as me," he said.

"When we went on the adventure weekend in Malvern I just remember it being amazing. I was very happy there and it had a positive effect."

It was following the adventure weekend that Mr Cross turned his life around and realised he wanted to give back what he had received from Noah's Ark by starting to help on the weekends from the age of 16.

"I started off as what is called a 'shipmate', helping out with what was going on and the activities. I didn't get involved with the bereavement side of things, more of the fun side," he said.

However he is now training to become a family mentor and when qualified will be allocated a family and child to work with during the two days.

"There is a great sense of involvement and enjoyment I get out of it. To be part of Noah's Ark and give back what it gave to me is refreshing. It is very important to me."

On top of his studies and charity work, he is now also training hard to run the London Marathon in April - and will be the first to represent them this way.

"I had always wanted to run the marathon. I am relatively fit and had mentioned it in a fundraising meeting with Noah's Ark. When they rung me to say that they had been given a place and would I like to have it, I jumped at the chance.

"It will be a big thing for me to do the run and to raise money for the charity. I want to try and raise as much as I can. "

The money he raises will be put towards the new £1m 'Towards a Brighter Future' campaign, launched by your Worcester News this week.

It will be used to help expand the services the charity offers by helping build a new base in the heart of Worcester that will help families and youngsters during such a dark and confusing period.

To sponsor Mr Cross, visit www.smartgive.com/funds/noahsark