I've raised £1000 to For the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance to fund further treatment for Survivors - the Hillsborough Transformational Recovery Model
Organised by Forest Ramblers
Story
The Merseyside Sports Tour is a 20 mile walk, 2nd July 2022, to be undertaken by teams, starting and finishing at Anfield and taking in other sporting venues on Merseyside, The objective is to raise funds for the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance. The HSA provide specially designed programmes of therapy for Survivors and witnesses; supporters of both Liverpool FC and, more recently, Nottingham Forest. The HSA provide online and direct support for people affected by the events at Hillsborough on 15.04.89. This support now includes a social media group for Forest supporters, some of whom have now accessed the therapy.
The work of the HSA continues to be vital - the aftermath of Hillsborough still affects people’s lives and, sadly, lives are still lost to the tragedy - the most recent in the past month. Recent campaigning has raised awareness of the impact on Forest fans present on that terrible day and the complete lack of support offered for them in the subsequent 33 years. The HSA supports these, alongside its core work to support survivors connected to LFC. The HSA is a non-profit making organisation. All the therapy offered is funded solely by donations.
Members of our team include those who lost friends, were witnesses, are survivors and several who benefit from the support of the HSA. Almost all are active Forest supporters, thougn we do have just the one ardent Liverpool supporter who has made it onto the team!
My guilt has gone now, the dreams have stopped and I feel I can cope now. In fact this group and HTRM have given me my life back! Previously because of Hillsborough I’d smashed my hand through a glass door, the stitches sorted my hand out but it was mentally were I needed help, thanks to Peter and Diane and everyone in the group I’m now feeling better in everything I do, I’m now enjoying my life again. Yes I can still shed a tear, I can still get a bit upset but now it’s on my terms and I’m in total control. So go for it, the success rate is phenomenal, don’t forget you’ve got nothing to lose by doing it.”
“The young, happy, me that went to Hillsborough was lost there. But the combination of HTRM therapy and finding unique understanding and mutual support through the HSA has brought me back. It’s hard to put into words the huge impact of this but it just feels like a persistent, dark, lingering cloud has been lifted. I now know what it really means to have hope in your heart and the ability to be happy again.”
Our teams, The ‘Original‘ Forest Ramblers and the ‘Hitchin Branch’ , comprise a mixture of some members of that HSA Forest group, other Forest fans who were present on that day, and others who simply appreciate the value of the work of the HSA.
