On Boxing Day morning, our mum, wife and granny left the family home at 3am in the morning  and never returned.  We do not know why and we do not know how she came to do this. What we do know is that it was not our normal Sally that did this.

Sally was a loving, caring and bubbly person who lit up people's lives and always kept the conversation flowing.  She loved her family and it was at the centre of her world.

We are finding it hard to process and understand what has occurred.  It is possible that she has been masking and battling mental health issues on her own, without help for some time. As a family we knew that she was sometimes a worrier, we knew that she sometimes had low self esteem and we knew that she sometimes struggled to adapt to all the new technology in today's rapidly changing world.  However none of these things on their own or together should have led her to do what she has done.  She was just a special but ordinary wife, mum and granny facing the challenges of life like everyone else.

We hope that the continued promotion and understanding of mental health issues will increase people's awareness  and help them to recognise when their loved ones need help and support.

To help us do this, please give what you can.  All funds raised from donations on the page will be split equally between Mind (the national charity, no. 219830) and Tyneside and Northumberland Mind (charity no. 1140856).

What has happened to Sally has touched so many people.  The community have rallied around and supported the whole of our family.  We feel that Sally would want us to continue helping those that need it, so please give what you can in memory of a special but ordinary wife, mum and granny.