Threlkeld born Andy Airey of 3 Dads Walking is to give a talk about the inspirational fundraising activities of the trio in the village hall – just yards from where he grew up.
Andy’s life was turned upside down when his daughter unexpectedly took her own life in 2018 and he teamed up with Tim Owen and Mike Palmer, who also lost their daughters to suicide, and completed three mammoth walks to raise money for the charity Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide.
Three Dads Walking formed in 2021 and that year they walked a 300-mile route connecting their homes in Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Norfolk with the aim of raising £3,000 each.
Their story sparked a huge response from public and celebrity sponsors and they raised more than £800,000 for Papyrus. At the same time they raised the public profile of the issue of young suicide.
It prompted them to contact the Government about adding suicide prevention to the school curriculum.
In a second walk in 2022 they trekked to the UK parliament buildings in Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London and ran a petition to make suicide prevention a compulsory part of education collecting 160,000 signatures. It was debated in Westminster with support from all parties.
A third walk took place this spring. They have now raised close to £1.5m and this has enabled Papyrus to increase their number of UK offices from five to 18 and to extend the opening hours of their suicide prevention helpline Hopeline247.
Andy will deliver his talk at Threlkeld Village Hall on Monday September 16 starting at 7:30pm.
There is a thread of hope running through their story which is ultimately uplifting.
Initially it is about how those bereaved by suicide can learn to live after the loss of their loved one, but it goes on to explain how people can all help those lost in desperation that can lead to suicide, by signposting where to reach out for help, what help is out there and how to become more aware of suicide prevention.
More details can be found at www.threlkeldvillagehall.org/whats-on
