Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) is a national charity with a grassroots, community approach, dedicated to providing free peer support to adults bereaved by suicide, so that no-one has to face their loss alone.

They do this via in-person and online support groups, along with phone and email support.

The charity is very close to my heart. SoBS provided essential support when my 82-year-old dad, Alan, took his own life in 2013, and since 2017 I have been a proud volunteer peer support facilitator at my local group in Winchester, Hampshire.

Over the years, I have shared stories, tears, laughter (not forgetting coffee and biscuits) with many fellow suicide-bereaved people who are navigating their way through their bereavement, just like me.

A passionate swimmer, I am excited (and a little scared) to be representing SoBS in the "Super Six" 6-mile "Swim Serpentine 2024" in Hyde Park, London, on Saturday 14 September as part of team SoBS.

Both me and SoBS would be so grateful if you could sponsor me in what will be the longest swim of my life. All money raised will help secure existing SoBS services and expand them further throughout the UK, so that their vital services are made even more accessible to the people who really need them.

Thank you for considering supporting this important cause.

Ellie and team SoBS. x