Harriet Davis suffered from a rare degenerative metabolic disease, and lived for just 11 years. Seaside holidays, in the company of family and friends, were a source of great joy and enrichment to her and thus to all who knew her, and in 1992 the Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust for Disabled Children was established as a tribute to her shining and indomitable spirit.

This year marks an important anniversary for the Trust; it is twenty years since Harriets parents, Kit and John Davis, established the charity as a tribute to her memory. To mark the occasion they will be launching a book, From Harriet with Love, which tells Harriets story and how Kit and John came to form the Trust, and includes contributions by a selection of those who also loved and cared for her, and the fun they had along the way.

The thirty years since Harriet was born have included a lot of stress and anxious times, says Kit and John, but overall we remember the fun, laughter and good times, and have been constantly grateful for the kindness of strangers.

As the principal carers of an increasingly frail child, Kit and John were constantly reminded of the lack of suitable holiday accommodation which would allow a severely disabled child to take part in a real family holiday. Therefore, they founded a registered charity in Harriets name that aimed to provide properties in seaside locations that are suitably constructed to offer families with disabled children the opportunity to enjoy seaside holidays. The needs of these families for rest and recreation have been provided for in remarkably creative and imaginative ways through the four houses owned by the Trust.

Harriets wish was that everyone should have a holiday as she was able to enjoy, adds Kit and John, and we suppose that what the book illustrates is that, whatever the disability, a holiday at the seaside can be uplifting and a healing place for all the family, and this underlines all that we have tried to provide since Harriet died.

From Harriet with Love is a remarkable story, one the authors believe should be told for the benefit of others as well as to provide a suitable tribute to their daughters life. All proceeds from the publication will be donated to the Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust for Disabled Children (Registered Charity No. 1015096).