Educator Andrea Lightbourne Webster was strolling through the aisles of a grocery store when she bumped into a former student and started chatting about an event she was hosting.

Taking place this Saturday, the event is looking to help people who have lost a loved one, but haven’t been given an opportunity to process those emotions.

Dr Lightbourne Webster hoped the former student might help with spreading the word to others in the community who were struggling with a past loss. She has no idea the student was grappling with an intense loss of her own.

“I was sharing with her about the event and she told me her mom died years ago and started to cry,” Dr Lightbourne Webster explained.

“I didn’t even know her mother had passed, but it just confirmed to me there are a population of people out there who need assistance.”

Dr Lightbourne Webster will be hosting the event through her non-profit organisation Lighthouse Ministry Foundation.

The foundation was established to help and empower individuals to navigate through challenging circumstances.

It provides them with opportunities to network with helping professionals and spiritual leaders who can offer hope and wholeness.

This weekend’s event will start off with interactive activities that help people to feel comfortable and at ease; it will also feature two guest speakers.

Dr Lightbourne Webster said: “The issue of loss is a very sensitive topic, so by having these interactive activities they build a rapport with people in the room.

“We have two speakers; one a Bermudian who suffered the tragic loss of her son and to this day they don’t know who did it.

“The second speaker is an American who is a Vietnam War veteran who not only suffered the loss of his comrades in battle, he also returned to the US and lost his wife to breast cancer and his unborn child.

“He has an extraordinary story and can speak about loss having experienced it first hand.”

She said she wanted people to come out and learn about new ways to process the loss and find healing.

“The whole premise of the Lighthouse Ministry Foundation is about making people complete and whole and not everyone has that opportunity.

“Some people go through the ritual of the loss experience, the funerals, the cards and phone calls and then all of that stops and they wonder ‘Now what?’.

“And for some people they are able to process that loss. They have a support system to help them through the grieving process. For others they are still living with that pain.”

Dr Lightbourne Webster said it didn’t matter if a person experienced the death of a loved one recently or several years ago.

She also insists everyone is welcome, regardless of their age, race or background.

“It will not be a day of doom and gloom,” she said, “But will rather be a day to reflect, celebrate, encourage, enlighten and empower others to deal with their personal challenges and to demonstrate to participants that others in the community care.”

Dr Lightbourne Webster was inspired to set up the foundation shortly after the double murders of Ricco Furbert and Haile Outerbridge in January 2013.

She said: “Bermuda has been rocked by violence and tragic losses the likes of which we have never seen in our history.

“The Lighthouse Ministry Foundation has a heightened sensitivity to the pain of loss in the lives of individuals and recognises that individuals need support along the journey of life.

“We aim to offer assistance by offering empowering resources: educational, spiritual and inspirational. Participants will have the support of discerning spiritual leaders and the professional help of qualified helping professionals willing to serve.”

Saturday’s event will also include lunch, free giveaways and other surprises. Tickets are $30 and available at the Music Box on Reid Street, Hamilton; however spaces are limited.