Christmas is a trying time for many, and too often people suffer in silence. Well one man, who was dreading spending his first Christmas alone, gathered the courage to speak out, and it paid off. Raymond, who is from the Prestwich area in Manchester, lost his wife this year and his only son lives in Australia. According to the Manchester Evening News: “I have been gaining the courage to write this so here goes... “I lost my wife earlier this year, and I am dreading this first Christmas without her. Our only son is now grown up and has a family of his own, lives in Australia and is unable to get back here to spend Christmas with me - I can’t get on a plane to travel that far to see him. “I don’t want to be a burden but are there any community meet ups on Christmas Day where I can go and meet others so I don’t have to spend the day eating my dinner alone? “Any help would be much appreciated. I am in the Prestwich area. Regards, Raymond.”   Hundreds of people were touched my the incredibly honest post, with many commenting to extend invitations to Raymond to spend Christmas in their homes. One commenter wrote: “Raymond. Come to ours and eat with us. Were going for a pint in the Bay Horse Whitefield lunchtime. I’ll come and pick you up. We live locally.” While another wrote: “Raymond...I know about that first Christmas alone without your Wife. I am on my 3rd this year without my Husband. “Please accept one of the very generous offers from our marvellous Prestwich people. Distraction is the one thing that helps weaken our grief and living alone for the first time in our lives. “Please join in with this first Christmas of yours. You will feel loved and wanted and it will be just what the doctor ordered.” Another offered: “Raymond, you are not a burden, there are a lot of us out there that would happily offer company and dinner to anyone alone. “You did the right thing posting here as otherwise we would never have known. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and maybe you could spend another day with myself and our family after all Christmas is just one day of the year.”