Darren and His Family: A Fresh Start Filled with Love
Sometimes, a home transformation is about so much more than bricks, paint and furniture. Sometimes, it’s about bringing a little happiness back into a family’s life when they need it most.
For Darren and his family, Project 4 was exactly that.
Their Story
Two years ago, Darren and his four children, Nicole, Emma, Katie and Ryan, experienced unimaginable heartbreak when they lost their beloved wife and mum, Sharon, to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and devastating neurological condition.
Since then, Darren has been navigating life without Sharon, raising his family while managing his own health challenges, including fibromyalgia.
When his daughter Emma nominated him for Project 33, she simply wanted to give something back to the dad who had given his family so much.
Their story touched our hearts, and we knew we wanted to help.
Three Days. One Incredible Transformation.
In August 2026, an extraordinary team of volunteer tradespeople, local businesses and community volunteers came together to transform Darren’s home in just three days.
From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedrooms, living spaces and garden, every corner of the house was given a new lease of life.
One particularly special transformation was Ryan’s bedroom. As an autistic teenager, having a space that reflected his personality, interests and needs was incredibly important. Seeing the joy his new room brought him made every hour of hard work worthwhile.
The entire project was powered by generosity, teamwork and a shared determination to give this family something truly special.
The transformation
The Moment That Made It All Worthwhile
When Darren and his family walked back through their front door, the emotions said everything.
In the days that followed, Darren told us he was still discovering little surprises around the house. He couldn’t believe what had been achieved and wanted every volunteer to know just how grateful his family were.
For us, that’s what Project 33 is all about.
We can’t take away the heartbreak this family has experienced, and nothing could ever replace Sharon.
What we could do was give them a home filled with warmth, comfort and the opportunity to make beautiful new memories together.
More Than a Renovation
Project 4 was a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together.
Every tradesperson, volunteer and business that contributed helped turn an ordinary weekend into something extraordinary.
We didn’t just transform a house. We helped one very deserving family begin a new chapter.
Darren and his family will always hold a special place in the Project 33 story.
Here’s to new beginnings, happy memories and a home filled with love.
