Nicky Wake lost her husband, Andy, in 2020 after he suffered two heart attacks in 2017 that left him needing round-the-clock care. She thought she would never find love again, but she eventually did—and has since helped over 25,000 other widows do the same.
A Story of Loss and Resilience
Andy, whom Nicki married in 2007, died during the COVID-19 pandemic. For three years prior, he required 24-hour care. Nicki, from Islington, told MyLondon: 'The doctors told me that my story doesn't have a happy ending. He was profoundly and completely disabled. When COVID hit and I lost him, my world imploded. It led to a very dark three-year period.'
She found support from a group called Widowed and Young, where she first heard the term 'chapter two'—referring to finding a new significant relationship. Inspired, she created her own platform, the Widowed Collective, a national peer-to-peer support network.
Creating a Safe Space for Widowed Daters
When Nicki tried dating apps like Tinder, she found that few people understood her experience. Realizing no app existed for widows and widowers, she launched Chapter2dating, a dating app for those seeking serious relationships. She also created WidowsFire, a sister app for those seeking no-strings-attached intimacy.
'I shared a bed for 20 years with my husband, and it was ripped away from me. We all deserve a second chance at happiness and joy,' she said. 'It is normal to crave comfort and sex after grief. I wasn't ready for a serious relationship, but I craved physical connection.'
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Both apps now have 25,000 users across the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, leading to marriages, engagements, and even children. Nicki herself found love through WidowsFire.
Finding Her Own Chapter Two
She met her partner Dan on WidowsFire. 'At first, we were just looking to address intimacy issues, but it developed into something serious. We've been together 10 months now, and I'm very much in love. We plan a positive future together.'
Her son Finn has been supportive. 'He is about to go to university in London, and he and Dan get on. Our families are blended. I never wanted to lose Andy, but I have made the best of the cards life dealt me.'
