30 Years ago, in April 1991, Alice Middleton set up the first ever Survivors of bereavement by Suicide support group and Helpline from her living room in Hull. After losing her Brother to Suicide Alice struggled to find anyone she could turn to for support so she placed an advert in her local paper to find others who had been impacted by suicide loss. With that advert, SOBS was born. Fast forward to 2021 and Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide are a National Charity with over 180 Volunteers 55 support groups throughout the UK, many of which are offering virtual support whilst we are unable to meet face to face....and this number is growing! Sadly, the need for their services are ever increasing and as a non profit organisation, rely on fundraising donations to continue to meet the needs of those impacted by a suicide loss.

The Love Family and SOBS

When we lost my brother, Steve, to suicide in 2012 we felt like our world had ended. The dizzying grief of a sudden death, coupled with the knowledge that Steve had taken his own life, left us adrift. My parents turned to our local SOBS for support, and, through regular monthly sessions, found help in talking through everything, and getting support from people in similar situations. The grief hasn't gone, it'll always be there, but the group's support helped them cope and day by day things became less painful.  

They've since moved to helping facilitate the group itself, had training, and have been helping members, new and old, come to terms with their grief. Throughout the pandemic meetings have moved virtually but the group still meets regularly,. We're still learning the effects the pandemic has had on mental health and suicide rates, but the group continues to be there for people who, sadly, have to find support.

Fundraising

I started my LEJOG virtual walk in January 2021 with no fundraising in mind. My broad aims were to get fitter, have a year off alcohol and lose some weight by walking 10k every day.

However, when I saw that in April 2021 SOBS members are walking 30 miles over 30 days, a mile a day, to raise funds and celebrate their 30th anniversary then, given I'm already walking, I thought I'd add my miles to theirs and help raise some money along the way.

Please help me support the work of SOBS groups up and down the country by giving a small amount.