My name is Rachael, and in 2023 I lost my dad, Grant, to suicide.

While I now have the courage to openly talk about my dad and his passing, for a long time I didn’t know how. Suicide is still surrounded by so much stigma, and I struggled with how to process my own grief while also navigating the difficulty of talking about how my dad died.

This September, I’m taking part in SoBS’s Hope in Every Step campaign, which celebrates 35 years of providing comfort, connection and support to people bereaved by suicide. SoBS has played an instrumental role in changing the way I understand and talk about suicide and suicide loss. It has given me a space to talk, grieve and heal alongside people who have experienced a similar loss, genuinely changing my life. This is why SoBS means so much to me.

I hope that by sharing my story and raising awareness, I can help someone else who is experiencing the same loss feel a little less alone. I also want to help challenge the stigma surrounding suicide and make it easier for people to have open, compassionate conversations about suicide and bereavement.

Over the next month, my goal is to walk 250,000 steps and raise £500 for SoBS. I’m also hoping to organise some walking events throughout September, and I would love for family and friends to join me - more details to follow!

Whether you donate, join me for a walk, share this post or simply take a moment to learn more about SoBS, every bit of support will help.

Thank you for all your love and support 🫶