Help Siti to make a difference.

Siti is the most beautiful soul. She would brighten any space with her bubbly personality, whether you wanted the light or not. She had this unwavering drive to carry on, until Sunday 17th September 2023.

Siti was what we called her at home, although I did start off calling her vaddi bhain, meaning big sister. Her name was Sandeep Kaur and she was the first of four children. She looked after us. She protected and nurtured us and never made us feel like we were a burden...despite me being a super annoying little sister.

Siti overcame a lot of challenges. A few lines cannot do justice to the amount of mental, emotional and physical pain she endured in her 42 years. She did not let the darkness and cruelty of the world define her life so we will make sure her light continues to shine after her death.

The day after her 42nd birthday, while she was in her ICU bed, we learnt that she would soon pass. I stayed with Siti and told her not to worry about this temporary world and that I would complete anything she felt she was holding on for. Call it love or haumai, I didn't want to let my sister down in death as I feel I have done in life. She passed peacefully in her sleep the next morning. This world will never be the same.

We are a family which has always enjoyed sports. Siti had rekindled this interest in the last few years. She had recently completed the Future Female Leaders course from Sporting Equals to help ensure equality in sport. Despite her body struggling, Siti was a keen volunteer at the Valentines and Barking Park Runs. Siti also was a very active volunteer at Sikhs in the City events and has a left a void that cannot be filled.

Siti didn't like feeling as if she had let anyone down and she always happiest when she was helping others. She may have felt she was being supported by our parents the last few years but she was a pillar for them too.

Mum and Dad are very proud of all of their children. We are all very different but want Mum and Dad to be proud of us in our ways. Siti had said to Dad she would do the London Marathon with him. I know this made him so happy. He loves running. To know one of his children was interested in running was enough but to join him meant the world.

So...I am doing the London Marathon for Siti this year. I will raise funds on her behalf for the Fauja Singh Clubhouse Appeal which aims to build a multi-use eco-friendly clubhouse to be used by the local community to promote health and wellbeing. I am by no means a runner (I think I missed out on that gene lottery) but I have found getting out for a walk/run has started to help me on my grief journey.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your support.

With love and gratitude,

Bali

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Sikhs In The City and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Sikhs In The City: THE ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR SPORT AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF HEALTH BY ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTHY RECREATION, IN PARTICULAR RUNNING.