Running the London Marathon in Memory of My Grandad

On Sunday 26th April, I will be running the London Marathon—my very first marathon—to raise vital funds for Suicide&Co, a charity dedicated to supporting those bereaved by suicide.

This cause is deeply personal to me as my family knows firsthand the shattering, complex grief that follows a loss to suicide. I was a baby when my Grandad died, but I know how my mum, my Nana and our family were left bewildered and grappling with a barrage of devastating and unanswered questions. They received no formal support on how to even begin navigating this tragedy. That profound feeling of being lost and unsupported is a burden no one should have to carry.

Why Suicide&Co's Work is So Vital

While so many charities rightly focus on suicide prevention, Suicide&Co works tirelessly to support the families and loved ones left behind in the aftermath. Their vision is to ensure everyone bereaved by suicide in England and Wales receives timely and effective support, helping them through their grief.

They provide essential, one-to-one bereavement counselling: Offering a much-needed listening ear and expert support to those struggling with their loss.

They offer 12 sessions of dedicated counselling: This allows people to heal and slowly build a life back up around their grief, enabling them to look forward with hope.

Every £30 raised provides one life-changing counselling session.

This focus on those left behind resonated with my family so strongly. The support Suicide&Co offers is exactly what my mum and her family so desperately needed, but tragically didn't receive.

The Scale of the Crisis

Losing someone to suicide is an immense and ongoing public health issue in the UK, impacting countless families every year.

Tragically, there were 5,648 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2024. This statistic represents thousands of families and friends whose lives are irrevocably changed by loss.

For every suicide, it is estimated that at least 10 people are seriously affected. This means that hundreds of thousands of people across the country are navigating this unique and complex grief, often in silence.

Suicide disproportionately affects those in the most challenging socioeconomic circumstances. The rate of suicide in the most deprived areas of England is more than double the rate in the least deprived areas. This means the families who are grieving are often those who are already struggling financially. Suicide&Co’s ability to provide free, professional counselling is a critical necessity for families who otherwise could not afford the support they so desperately need to heal.

My London Marathon Challenge

Thank you so much for any donation that you are willing to make. I know that all of the money that I raise will really help to support families dealing with the pain and complexity of suicide-related grief.