Fern and Ryan Steele

We are Fern and Ryan Steele, the founders of Harlee’s Angels. Our charity was created in memory of our eldest son, Harlee, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in June 2020, aged just 11.

​

We are parents to four beautiful children, Harlee, Louie, Elsie-Maè and Niàmh. We also have our much-loved dog, Zeus, who was given his name because Harlee always said that was what he would call his dog one day.

​

Following Harlee’s death, we were fortunate to have the support of family and friends, allowing us to take time away from work to grieve. We soon realised that not every family has that same opportunity, especially when financial worries make an already heartbreaking situation even harder.

​

This is why we created Harlee’s Angels, to support other families facing the sudden and unexpected loss of a child, offering financial assistance, counselling and practical support when they need it most.

​

A message from Fern

Harlee was my first-born baby, the one who made me a mummy, and I will forever be grateful for that. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him. Talking about Harlee, sharing our story and helping other families is our way of keeping his memory and legacy alive.
 

A message from Ryan

I miss the time Harlee and I spent together, whether that was watching Southampton play football, talking about Man City, gaming or just spending time together. My mates always called him “his dad’s right-hand man”, and that’s exactly what he was.
 

Harlee’s Angels means so much to us both. Although nothing can take away the pain of losing a child, we hope that through our charity we can make even the smallest difference to families going through the unimaginable.