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Sean's fundraiser for BAGS for Strife

Sean McManus is raising money for BAGS for Strife
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Rottnest Marathon · 11 June 2023

Absolutely nothing prepares you for loss by suicide. For all of us who set up the charity, it’s so important to do something in honour & in memory of those we lost, and we can only hope through our own experience, we can offer some support through the darkest of days. We reached out to friends and family who all have experienced loss in this way and asked them to describe their most prominent emotions in the following months. The common feelings were Blame, Anger, Guilt and Sadness. Why? We were struck by the lack of accessible support for families and friends in the aftermath of loss by suicide and having reached out to others who have been through similar circumstances, we realised that our experience was not unique. Whilst there are a range of services “out there”, the issue appears to be a lack of knowledge/accessibility/geographical variation/timeliness of these. In response, we have subsequently established BAGS for Strife – a charity that is steered and led by a group of people with their own lived experience of suicide and its aftermath. What? We know that everyone’s experience of grief and loss is unique. Some people may want help in the first few days to navigate their way through the practical elements that must be faced, others may want to reach out for emotional support, and some may stumble and fall weeks or months or years after their tragedy. BAGs will provide practical and emotional support both for the short and long term.

Story

At the start of the year, I decided that I would challenge myself and push myself out of my comfort zone. So far, I’ve taken part in weekly Yoga classes, CrossFit, 10k Assault Course and a 1/2 marathon.

My next challenge is taking part in a Marathon (42.2Kilometres) on Rottnest Island.

I’ve selected BAGS for Strife as my charity to donate to as this charity is very close to my partner’s heart. On 8th November 2019, my partner lost her best friend to suicide. This was extremely difficult for my partner, Sophie, to come to terms with and has come with a lot of suffering years on after Kat’s passing.

Kat’s mother, Angela and sister, Tash have put together BAGS For Strife. This charity is designed to support anyone who suffers a loss from suicide. It focuses on the lives left behind and is a care package for those in need. If you would like to visit their website, please do so on www.bagsforstrife.co.uk

Any donations would be greatly appreciated and an additional help to motivate me through the run, especially after a 90 minute football game the day before the marathon and most importantly to raise funds for their amazing charity and all it offers for others sadly going through similar struggles.

Thank you 🙌🏽

- Sean McManus

Also Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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Donation summary

Total
A$1,025.34
+ A$9.56 Gift Aid
Online
A$1,025.34
Offline
A$0.00

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