20th July 2026

Laura Harkin came to live with her foster carers, Ann Marie and Gary, in 2001.

“When I was placed in Ann Marie and Gary’s care in June 2001, I was just a child. I couldn’t have known then that they would become the family I had always needed. They didn’t just open the door to their home, they opened their hearts to me, and they have never stopped.

Growing up in foster care came with uncertainty, loss, and moments where I questioned where I fit in. But through every challenge, Ann Marie and Gary were my constant. They gave me a safe place to call home, believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself, and loved me unconditionally. They saw beyond my circumstances and helped me see the person I was capable of becoming.

They have been there for every chapter of my life. They encouraged me through my education, supported my dream of travelling and exploring the world, and never stood in the way of the life I wanted to build. They have celebrated every achievement, comforted me through every setback, and loved me through every season of life.

Their support didn’t end when I became an adult. They have continued to stand beside me, supporting my lifestyle, welcoming my husband into the family, and reminding me that family is not defined by blood but by love, commitment, and the choice to be there for one another every single day.

Everything I am today has been shaped by the love, stability, and opportunities they gave me. They changed the course of my life simply by caring, believing, and never giving up on me. No words could ever fully express the gratitude I feel for everything they have done.

Ann Marie and Gary didn’t just foster a child, they gave me a future, a family, and a place where I will always belong. For that, I will be forever grateful.”