Hi,
Welcome to our fundraising page in aid of Aware Defeat Depression
In February of this year (2011) our beautiful little sister Clare died because she battled depression every day of her young life. Clare loved to help other sufferers, even though she herself battled with the illness. We have come together to keep her dream alive by raising money through a sponsored walk, full details within the next few days!
Clare was featured in a women’s magazine November 2010 where she talked about the battle she was having with Depression. She talked about the time when the children were both at school and she had to think about going back to work. She told her councillor about it and she said, “When you go on a plane and the stewardess is giving a safety talk. When it comes to putting on your oxygen mask whose do you put on first- Yours or your children? It’s you because that means you are in a strong position to look after your children”. Clare went on to say, “I need to find ‘my oxygen mask’ so that I can be stronger and deal with the rest of my life.” She went on to start her own business up in August. She called it SPARKLY BARCLAY doing temporary airbrush body art tattoos, and she loved it and was successful in what she did. Her main aim was to start workshops and help others who are in a similar situation as she was. Clare couldn’t help herself, but she could help others who were suffering in silence like her. She said “There is something therapeutic about art and being creative. It can offer a diversion. I want to encourage people to take a little time out for themselves.
I came across this website and thought it would help men that suffer depression www.theblackdog.net
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What do you see when you look at me?
What do you see when you look at me
A slim tall white male?
Correct. But look more carefully and tell me
What do you see when you look at me.
My fast-receding hairline and square jaw?
Correct. Both inherited characteristics of my late father;
But what else do you see when you look at me?
My narrow eyes and bulging nose?
Correct. Both inherited characteristics of my late mother;
But what else do you see when you look at me?
My clothes perhaps or maybe my composure,
Both potentially a reflection of my inner-self?
Ah, yes, my inner-self
That which governs my mind and soul,
Which amateurs and professionals alike call “mental health”;
Best understood only by listening and speaking
But how carefully are you listening to what I am saying?
Think for one moment before opening your mouth
And ask yourself “are you speaking at, or speaking to, me?!”
You see, beyond my clothes and under my skin,
Is a mind trapped inside.
Listen for one moment and you may hear
The cry from within “Get me out of here!”
“From where” you may ask me
And the answer is “at times I don’t know;
When my anxiety overwhelms me and my depression overshadows me,
I do not really know whether I should come, stay or go!”
I have no way of knowing
Whether I am coming or going
Nor can I tell, how long I will remain
Psychologically locked out in the freezing rain,
Wishing to be in a warmer happier place.
As ANON once said
“Do not walk in front of me,
I may not always follow;
Do not walk behind me,
I may not always lead;
Just walk beside me,
And be my friend!”
So set aside your prejudice;
Judge me for who I am, not who you would like me to be.
In reality I am no different to you,
Just skin and bone
With a mind that sometimes wanders
And at other times, takes flight on its own;
But please remember when you hear me whine and you retort “No More!”
That mental illness affects one-in-four.
A slim tall white male?
Correct. But look more carefully and tell me
What do you see when you look at me.
My fast-receding hairline and square jaw?
Correct. Both inherited characteristics of my late father;
But what else do you see when you look at me?
My narrow eyes and bulging nose?
Correct. Both inherited characteristics of my late mother;
But what else do you see when you look at me?
My clothes perhaps or maybe my composure,
Both potentially a reflection of my inner-self?
Ah, yes, my inner-self
That which governs my mind and soul,
Which amateurs and professionals alike call “mental health”;
Best understood only by listening and speaking
But how carefully are you listening to what I am saying?
Think for one moment before opening your mouth
And ask yourself “are you speaking at, or speaking to, me?!”
You see, beyond my clothes and under my skin,
Is a mind trapped inside.
Listen for one moment and you may hear
The cry from within “Get me out of here!”
“From where” you may ask me
And the answer is “at times I don’t know;
When my anxiety overwhelms me and my depression overshadows me,
I do not really know whether I should come, stay or go!”
I have no way of knowing
Whether I am coming or going
Nor can I tell, how long I will remain
Psychologically locked out in the freezing rain,
Wishing to be in a warmer happier place.
As ANON once said
“Do not walk in front of me,
I may not always follow;
Do not walk behind me,
I may not always lead;
Just walk beside me,
And be my friend!”
So set aside your prejudice;
Judge me for who I am, not who you would like me to be.
In reality I am no different to you,
Just skin and bone
With a mind that sometimes wanders
And at other times, takes flight on its own;
But please remember when you hear me whine and you retort “No More!”
That mental illness affects one-in-four.
Christopher Luke
DONT QUIT
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Author unknown
Love from all of Clares family x
