On the 3rd of June 2019 about 8pm I received a phone call from my best friends wife. I knew something was wrong, what was Sarah calling me for at this time?

He’s killed himself, he’s walked in front of a train.

Rob, fit and well aged 42 was dead......

I dropped my phone on the floor and fell to the ground in shock.

I thought this must be a joke but quickly realised that thought was equally as ridiculous as the information that I just received. It was no joke.

I continued my dog walk the mile back home in shock with my wife Helen, both of us in stunned silence. I then told my 12 and 14-year-old that their uncle Rob was dead.

Let’s get something straight right from the start . Rob was a rock, the guy who would offer guidance and support not need it. He was the strong one with no gaps in his armour, the very last person you expect to do this.

Months have passed, I have seen pain I never thought possible, people destroyed devastated and changed. People left behind with an abundance of questions but no answers.

So I ask myself how and why Rob could be the victim of such a rare event, how on earth could this happen to someone like him.

Well the reality is that in 2018 6507 people took their own lives. It is the leading cause of death of all men under 50, and young people under 25.

Rates are rising alarmingly, and 3/4 of suicide victims had no mental health contact in the year leading up to the death.

There is a huge impact on people that are left behind and unbelievably 9% of those left behind will consider or attempt suicide. 8% of those left behind will drop out of work.

So what now then? Rob is dead, shall we all just move on and get on with our lives, of course not, not everyone.

People do move on and quite rightly get on with their lives, that’s understandable. But the most vulnerable remain present in the moment, the children that are left to contemplate why their mum or dad or sister or friend left for ever.

So to put it simply I just want to do a little something to help kids left behind. To help them feel that they are not alone and help is there if needed.

The sad reality is that next year over 7000 more people will die.

7000, that’s  a huge amount of people. Crazy when you actually think about it, you could fill the LCFC stadium in just over 4 years  

Just pause for a moment and think about the kids left in the wake of that level of tragedy, it’s almost incomprehensible.

It would be great if you could spare a little to help this charity.

If you can’t no problem, money doesn’t slosh about that’s for sure.

I hope I have achieved improving your knowledge on the impacts of a loved one taking their own life, it’s not as unusual as it should be you know.

So I’m going to run the Atlanta Marathon in the USA in March. I’m running it with my uncle Paul who also lost a friend in similar circumstances a few years back. All money raised goes to the charity (I’m obviously personally covering ALL of my costs and I’m staying at Paul’s who lives in Atlanta)

Finally I Implore you to watch this 

https://www.winstonswish.org/hope-after-suicide/

Please check out Winston’s Wish - giving hope to grieving children

Thanks so much

Ali

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