September

Tracey McAtamney

Ladies First Professional Development

Raising money for Surviving Bereavement

About

Surviving Bereavement was founded by Tracey McAtamney to provide compassionate support for people grieving the loss of a loved one.

As a community initiative, we run bereavement cafés funded through the generosity of sponsors, creating safe, welcoming spaces where people can come together to talk, listen, and simply be heard.

Grief can be overwhelming, isolating, and deeply lonely. No one should have to face it alone. Our cafés offer understanding, friendship, and a sense of belonging, helping people rebuild confidence, make new connections, and take small steps towards hope and healing.

Together, we aim to bring comfort, companionship, and, when the time is right, a little sunshine and a few more smiles back into people's lives.

Why

In 2004, Tracey McAtamney's life changed forever. Overnight, she was widowed when her husband tragically passed away while playing golf in Spain, leaving her to face an unimaginable future with their two young sons.

The hardest moment of all was having to tell her seven-year-old son that his daddy was never coming home.

Alongside the overwhelming grief came the responsibility of protecting her family's future. Tracey found herself fighting not only to cope with the devastating emotional loss but also to save the family law practice and, ultimately, their home.

In the darkest of times, she discovered a hidden strength and resilience she never knew she possessed. Rather than allowing tragedy to define her, she chose to use her experience to help others.

Years later, Tracey shared her journey in her self-published book, Hidden Strength: A True Story of Love, Loss and Resilience. By telling her story with honesty and hope, she found a new purpose.

That purpose led to the creation of Surviving Bereavement, a community initiative dedicated to ensuring no one has to face grief alone. Through bereavement cafés and peer support, Tracey has created safe, welcoming spaces where people can share their experiences, find understanding, build new friendships, and begin to rediscover hope.

Today, her mission is simple: to help people realise that although life after loss is never the same, with support, compassion and connection, it is possible to find strength, purpose, and moments of sunshine once again.