In June this year, my world fell apart when our beautiful, smart, kind, funny son Samuel took his life following a, mostly silent, battle with his mental health.

Sam was only 19 and in his first year of university. He was studying Computer Science at Warwick and was the 3rd student, at that university, this year to have attempted to take their own life. We have subsequently found out that the office of National Statistics has previously reported that one UK student dies by suicide every four days. This is unacceptable.

I can’t bring back my son, but I can help others that feel that life for them is hopeless. These deaths are very much preventable with the right care. I, along with my daughter Charlotte, have decided to take on this challenge to honour our Sam and to help build awareness and raise funds for mind. It is our hope in doing so that we can do something, as a first step, to prevent this from happening to other young people and their families.

Mind are an incredible charity. They provide supportive and reliable information when someone is experiencing a mental health problem, this has the power to change and save lives. They empower people to understand their condition and choices available to them as well as providing online lifelines to people, and information on mental health within the legal system.

I know that times are incredibly hard for everyone, both mentally and financially at the moment so if all you can do is share this page as far as you can, it would mean the world to me and may just save a young persons life.

Thank you x