Three fathers are undertaking a 300 miles charity walk in memory of their daughters lost to suicide.
Despite the distance that separates them, Mike, Andy and Tim are brought together by tragic loss of their daughters. Suicide is the biggest killer of those under 35 in the UK; a hidden epidemic affecting so many young people, including Beth, Sophie, and Emily.
The three fathers are raising funds in support of PAPYRUS, a Mental Health and Suicide Charity, and hope awareness will save other families from the unimaginable grief an untimely loss can create, encouraging them to talk to each other and clear the stigma around suicide.
"We are simply 3 Dads taking on a walk, in memory of our beautiful daughters. We are so grateful for your support and understand that some of you may want to wish us well over the course of the two weeks."
Coverage by ITV and the BBC has allowed the fathers to raise a considerable amount of funds, with a £10,000 boost personally donated by Daniel Craig, star from the latest James Bond movie.
The walk with cover 300 miles across 15 days; starting on the 9th October at Morland and ending on the 23rd October in Shouldham.
Tim is a Wing Commander in the RAF, working as a Regional Liaison Officer for the East of England, under No 11 Group. His daughter, Emily was a loved member of the community, playing for the local football club and working at the village pub. She shared joy and laughter with the customers, and spread her creative talent through art.
Autism meant Emily struggled to fit into society and saw the world differently; she could not understand how people were nasty, and that would frustrate her. She wanted to spread kindness and help everyone, even planning to volunteer for the NHS as a pathway into a nursing career.
Emily brought home the weekly shop, during which she was challenged at the supermarket as to why a young girl would buy so much food – unbeknownst to them it was for her family, they jumped to judge her rather than consider Emily’s kindness.
Years of struggling led Emily to attempt suicide on the 18th March 2020. She died five days later, in the hospital where she had been born 19 years earlier.
"I strongly believe that in a moment of darkness Emily made a wrong decision. Two minutes earlier or later it would have been different. Had she just taken time to think or to speak to someone, her decision and my family’s lives would be on another path. Instead, she decided she could no longer go on leaving behind a devastating ripple effect on her family and friends."
Mike is a firefighter living in South Manchester. Like so many, COVID-19 changed his daughter, Beth’s, life with many unable to finish college or see their plans come to fruition.
Beth was a popular and loving child, with an incredible wit, fierce independence, and zest for life. She thrived at school, eventually becoming head girl, and even played the title role of Annie in the school play and other performed in various theatres across the country with the local dance school.
Beth had even signed to a record label and sang at local venues, silencing drinkers from their sips with her stunning voice.
Beth took her own life aged 17. Her song, ‘Pixel Screens’ (available on all major streaming platforms) entered top of the charts soon after her death.
Her family received a touching message from a fellow student who remembered how Beth had supported them in drama, sharing her innate ability to befriend people and make them feel special.
"Beth will never know how much it meant to me and thanks to her I got a good grade in my drama because she made me believe in myself."
Over two hours away from Mike is Andy, born and bred in Cumbria. His daughter Sophie was a hardworking, well-respected, nurse with a great sense of humour. She adored the great outdoors, having many happy memories of walking, biking, or skiing; as well as a love for music, especially rock and heavy metal.
Sophie volunteered at a Kenyan orphanage, with a desire to pursue nursing. She later went to Edinburgh as an oncology nurse and had an exciting career ahead. However, in the autumn of 2018, Sophie split from Sam, her husband, but nothing suggested she was contemplating suicide.
Sophie took her own life just a week before Christmas 2018.
"If she had shared her emotions with any of us, we would have done everything within our power to help her…but she didn’t."
Andy ran a fundraising half marathon shortly after Sophie’s funeral, and has since undertaken two more, as well as a many other fundraising activities and events such as yoga, comedy nights, a spot on the BBC Radio 4 Charity of the Week Appeal, and a film about suicide awareness and benefits of the outdoors, 'The Other Side.'
Beth, Sophie, and Emily will be deeply missed by so very many people.
You can read more and donate here. Or visit PAPYRUS for help, advise, and ways to raise awareness and funds.