We are raising funds for SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) as part of our Three Peaks Challenge in memory of my lovely uncle Luke and my wonderful dad Steve, who we lost to suicide within 2 weeks of each other at the end of 2025.

Suicide doesn’t just take a life, it reverberates through families, friends, communities and workplaces. When someone dies by suicide, each death affects an average of at least 135 people, including close family, extended family, friends, colleagues and first responders. The emotional impact is deep, long-lasting, and often isolating.

Many bereaved by suicide describe feeling misunderstood or unsupported, and the practical systems in place often feel fragmented or difficult to navigate.

In the UK alone each year:

Thousands of people die by suicide.

Suicide is consistently among the leading causes of death for people under 50.

Research suggests hundreds of thousands of people are affected by each year’s deaths, not just immediately but for years afterwards.

The tragedy of losing someone to suicide doesn’t end with the funeral, it begins a new journey of grief, often with guilt, isolation, unanswered questions, trauma and fear of stigma.

For our family, the support we received from SOBS made a real, meaningful difference. Through helplines staffed by trained volunteers who truly listen, support groups where we could speak openly without fear of judgment, and guidance through the emotional and practical turmoil of bereavement. We were able to find connection, understanding and support in a time that felt unbearable.

We are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money and awareness, not just to honour Luke and Steve, but to help other families get the support they deserve.

Every step we take, every pound donated, is for the families who are grieving in silence.

Thank you for reading, for donating if you can, and for sharing this message so that support and compassion reach further.