Our 36k Challenge, 2026

Every year, 36,000 people are newly facing suicide loss. This is the 5th year of the 36k Challenge, our way of standing in solidarity with them and showing them, they are not alone.

This September, 19 of us are taking on the challenge together, coordinated by Gayatri, a proud community ambassador for Suicide&Co. Three of us, Gayatri, Beverley and Hayley, will be walking the commemorative 36km together, while 16 others form their own teams, walking, cycling, and running their own multiple 36kms.

Meet the team

Gayatri Wood, Harjot Basra, Chloe, Jerine Corte, Maddie Cater, Harold Gittelmon, Josh Jameson, Jude Slazenger, Beverley Kaye, Hayley Kleiman, Katie Blazeby, Maya Kessler, Reena Kotak, George Lucas, Harry Lane, Leah Tyrrell, Archie McCann, Theresa Mercado, and Zacki Doumou.

Why we're doing this

Suicide has touched each of our lives differently. Between us, we're carrying more stories and reasons than we could ever list, and that's why we're doing this together.

Here's one of those stories, from Gayatri, as an example of why Suicide&Co's services matter so much.

I've been bereaved by suicide seven times, and the hardest was one of my first, years ago now. He was like family to me. He played a crucial role in my life and losing him consumed my thoughts for a long time. I also felt ashamed by how deeply it affected me. I wasn't his closest friend, and I wasn't his family, so I didn't feel I had the right to grieve the way I did.

For a long time, I struggled in silence, and it cost me. I couldn't sleep. I stopped showing up properly for the people around me. People weren't sure how to bring him up, so his name quietly disappeared from conversation, and with it, I felt the memories I wanted to hold onto.

What finally shifted things was one conversation. Someone let me talk about him properly, share the memories, say his name without flinching. I was lucky to have that person in my life. A lot of people aren't. That's exactly what Suicide&Co exists to give people, through their bereavement counselling, Early Bereavement Support Programme, and Help Hub: somewhere to talk before it becomes too much, whether or not they have someone like that of their own.

Everyone here has their own person and their own reason for covering 36km.

About Suicide&Co

Suicide&Co is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to supporting people bereaved by suicide. Since launching in 2020, they've built a team of staff, counsellors, volunteers and supporters, and their impact has grown with it. But demand for their services is at an all-time high, and it still isn't enough.

They're committed to contacting everyone who applies for counselling within 48 hours, and to offering 12 free sessions to anyone who needs them. That commitment is only possible with support like this.

How you can help

If you're able to donate, whatever you can give will go directly towards helping someone through one of the hardest things they'll ever face. And if you know someone who's grieving, or struggling, this is your sign to check in on them today.

Thank you for supporting us, and for supporting Suicide&Co's vital work.