A BIG group of friends from Frome is running the town’s half marathon this Sunday to raise money for a suicide prevention charity, after they lost two friends in just two years.
The group of around 40 people will be fundraising for Papyrus, a charity aiming to prevent suicide in young people. They have been fundraising since their close friends Sam Stephenson and Callum Wooldridge took their own lives less than two years apart.
Ellie Frew, Sam’s cousin, says the experience shocked the group and that people need to be more open about depression and suicidal thoughts.
Ellie told Frome Times, “When Sam died we were all devastated. It was a huge shock and something a lot of us thought could never happen to a group like ours. Then when Callum died, there was a sense of ‘how is this happening again?’ We all got together, the same group of friends as the day Sam died, and I felt incredibly helpless and frustrated, and scared, because if another one of my friends had been driven to this, who might be next?
“It is unacceptable that not one, but two of our favourite people felt like they couldn’t communicate how they were feeling.”
The big group of family and friends will be running in the half marathon or 10k races at Frome Half Marathon this Sunday 17th July. They have already raised nearly £2,500, and will donate it to the charity as they did with £2,790 raised running the Bath Skyline 10km in January.
To donate to the group’s campaign search ‘Callum Wooldridge’ online at www.justgiving.com
“I think it’s really important that people start talking more openly about suicide and depression,” Ellie continued. “Suicide is still one of those things that people feel awkward speaking about, and that has to stop.
“I also think that people should start listening better and taking things more seriously. No-one ever thinks their friend or loved one will take their own life and it seems so unimaginable.
“But it’s happened here in Frome, to this community of friends, twice in the last two years. People should be able to talk about how they’re feeling, but we also need to be able to listen to that and respond in a way that isn’t harmful. Papyrus does a lot of work training people on how to help those with suicidal thoughts and I think that’s really really important.”
Suicide is the biggest killer of people under 35 in the UK, and in 2014 an average of over four young people killed themselves every day.
Papyrus runs a national helpline for people at risk, and for those worried about someone they know – 0800 068 4141. The charity also trains people in helping those at risk of suicide, and aims to break down stigma around the subject.
For more info go to www.papyrus-uk.org
A guide to UK-based Free Mental Health Helplines by Cassiobury Court.
