Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Four years ago, on 28 February 2021, my wonderful cousin Phoebe took her own life. She lived as long as she could, and while she was the brightness in all our lives, she never shared the darkness in hers. Phoebe kept her depression hidden, but in our grief we have learnt the power of sharing. The grief is just as big, but so is Phoebe’s presence.

No journey in grief is linear, and I am still learning what it means to live with it. Phoebe’s suicide will always be two days before my birthday - this year, my 30th - and it has become something of a tradition to raise money in her honour. At this moment especially, when many of us feel so hopeless in the face of the world’s chaos, a small act of giving can be the glimmer of hope that another person so desperately needs.

A couple of years ago, Ros (Phoebe’s mum) and I chose SuicideCo, a charity which supports those who have been bereaved by suicide, and which remains close to our hearts. SuicideCo provides support and counselling for those who are grieving while also working to open up dialogue around suicide and remove the stigma. As someone who has relied so heavily on grief counselling (and who still struggles to talk about suicide with any semblance of composure), I cannot overstate the importance of SuicideCo’s work. Any donation, however big or small, makes a difference and is felt by those who need it most.