After a journey of 18 years and annual ballot heartache, 2027 will see me, finally, take part in the London Marathon.

I’m running, and raising funds, for Every Life Matters.

It’s quite apt that I’ll be running in 2027 because it’s no secret that 20 years before in 2007 I had some dark times and dark thoughts that I found it incredibly hard to navigate through after a few tumultuous life events.

And that’s where charities like Every Life Matters come in. Although they weren’t around when my life was out of control and everything felt a bit much they were exactly the type of organisation I would very much have wanted to have had in my corner.

I’ll be aiming to do fundraising drives and events at least once every two months so please keep a look out for what’s coming up.

Where does the money go?

Funds are sorely needed in Cumbria, both to help us educate our local communities in suicide prevention skills and also to ensure that we can continue to support families facing the loss of a loved one to suicide, perhaps one of the most traumatic forms of bereavement we can experience.

From large to small donations, all have an impact on what we can achieve…

£5 = A self harm safe kit for a young person
£15= community member to be trained in suicide awareness


£50 = train a teacher in suicide prevention skills


£100 = first session and a care pack for a family bereaved by suicide


£250 = Delivery of a self harm alertness course for school staff


£500 = pay for us to train a year group in a secondary school in suicide prevention skills

On average more than one person a week dies by suicide in Cumbria, more than double the amount that die on our County's roads. Every death by suicide is an avoidable tragedy.

Suicides are preventable. We need a society where people feel able to reach out for help. Where members our communities have the knowledge and skills to recognise when someone is at risk and to know how to offer support. And services that are accessible and effective.

Suicide is everyone's business. Visit our website today and learn what part you can play.