Luke Alfano, now 26, lost his father suddenly when he was 21, a university student struggling to cope. He describes feeling like he was on autopilot, avoiding the pain of his loss. Traditional therapy felt too clinical for him, so he sought a more casual, physical outlet. Combining his love for fitness with a need for connection, he launched Too Young To Grieve, a community that uses running and other activities to help young people process grief.
Creating a Safe Space for Grief
Alfano, from Barnet, explains that losing a parent at a young age is uniquely challenging. 'You have to navigate most of your life without the guidance you expected,' he says. 'Grief can feel overwhelming and isolating, especially when peers haven't experienced similar loss.' Too Young To Grieve offers runs, coffee meetups, and webinars for people aged 20 to 40. No one is forced to speak; they can simply show up and move. Since November, run clubs have launched in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Why Physical Activity Helps
Alfano believes grief lives in the body, and movement helps release it. 'Combining talking with physical activity is powerful,' he says. 'You can let it out physically as well as through conversation.' He notes that seeing the weight lift from participants' shoulders is rewarding. 'I didn't have this when I was grieving at uni, and it affected me longer than it might have. Now I'm providing it for others.'
Alfano's father was community-minded, and he hopes he would be proud. 'I turned something painful into something purposeful. Grief never goes away, but creating a community and having conversations helps you understand how it has changed you.'
