Story
On January 5th 2024, George Harcourt tragically took his own life. George was a friend and a brother to us, and truly the best we knew of both. There was never a dull moment with George around; he brought warmth, humour, and heartfelt energy to every situation he found himself in. George saw the hidden potential in everyone he encountered, whether old friends or new, and he genuinely brought out the best in people. He is so dearly missed and his passing has made our world much quieter, and considerably less gentle and amusing.
The struggles George faced are unfortunately shared by many. Mental health challenges are both complex and confusing; there are no simple solutions. That said, in raising both money and awareness, we hope that one day the path George decided to take can become less travelled. Thanks to the beautiful work done by charities across the globe, we can rest somewhat assured that there is hope for the future for those who may have also contemplated whether their lives are too much to bear.
The six of us will be running the 2024 Paris Marathon in loving memory of George and to raise funds for Papyrus UK. Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide is a leading UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. Suicide remains the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK, both male and female. Papyrus exists to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives, by shattering the stigma surrounding suicide and equipping young people with the skills to respond to emotional distress.