walking for Laura

Laura

Laura is a daughter to her Mum and Dad.

Laura is a big sister and a little sister to her five siblings.

Laura is a granddaughter, niece and a cousin.

Laura is a best friend, friend, a work colleague and a neighbour.

Laura is (now) an aunt to her beautiful niece and nephews.

Laura is independent, she works, pays her rent & bills, drives and goes on holidays.

Laura loves getting dressed up for a night out with her friends and sisters.

Laura attends university where she studies early childhood with the intention of becoming a teacher.

Laura is loving, caring, reliable and has a wicked sense of humour.

Laura has a loving family, a solid circle of both lifelong school and morris dancing friends.

Laura, by all means, is typical of most young women of her age.

On 3rd March 2010, at the age of 23, Laura decided to take her own life.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Laura’s death. This occasion, for some, often feels like it happened only yesterday.

* * * * * * * * * *

The harsh reality of suicide

In 2019 suicide rates in the UK increased to their highest level since 2002. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/sep/03/suicides-rates-in-uk-increase-to-highest-level-since-2002

In 2019 New Zealand deaths reached their highest level since records began 12 years ago https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12262081

Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. There are indications that for each adult who died by suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide. https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/

When someone dies by suicide, it reaches out across the community like ripples on a pond. Families and friends are devastated – and many more people are touched. You do not have to have had a family or personal relationship – the loss of an acquaintance, colleague, client or even a stranger can affect you.

* * * * * * * * * *

Whenever the topic of suicide arises I’m ready for people to hear about my beautiful sister and how loved and missed she was/is.

Try to encourage people that no matter how hard things get, there are support options out there.

There are charities, groups, online forums, friends and family to assist in accessing these tools for coping, and more often than not, with open arms and listening ears.

There is no need to struggle alone.

There shouldn’t be a stigma attached to those struggling with mental health issues or to losing a loved one by suicide.

There is no shame in struggling or not knowing how to cope.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

There are mountains to go and climb both literally and figuratively.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mount Iron challenge

For Lauras 10-year anniversary I will be fundraising for what I believe to be very special charities, both here in New Zealand and at home in the U.K

TO CLARIFY: THE DONATIONS ON THIS PAGE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO HOPEWALKNZ - I HAVE A SEPARATE PAGE FOR MY UK CHARITY BELOW)

HopeWalk NZ - HopeWalk SuicidePrevention Movement is a charitable trust with a suicide awareness/prevention events and project like HopeWalk, Lights 4 Lives, and Link 4 Life. They are a grassroots movement of hope for those who have been effected by suicide. Working together with other likeminded organisations and community groups to provide a platform for suicide prevention.

SOBS UK - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

exist to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide. We are a self-help organisation and we aim to provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings, so giving and gaining support from each other.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/livingwithoutlaura

Being outdoors has always been important to me. I believe it is beneficial for lots of reasons and have especially fond memories of a camping trip with my two sisters and summiting a wee hill called Moel Famau.

To raise funds for the charities I will be walking another wee hill here in Wanaka, New Zealand. A hill, which due it’s accessibility, reminds me so much of Moel Famau. It is called Mount Iron.

Over the course of the next four weeks in the lead up to my sister’s 10-year anniversary I will be summiting Mount Iron 23 times - one summit for each year Laura gifted us her presence.

Your support in whatever form would be much appreciated. A share goes a long way.

If you would like to donate I would love it if the donations were split as equally as possible, I have treated New Zealand as my temporary home for the past few years and this issue here is just as raw, within months of me arriving it was highlighted in my new workplace. If you cannot donate but would like to come for a little walk with me in support or memory of your loved one you are more than welcome.

Finally, to the survivors of bereavement by suicide, whatever stage you are at in your journey… My heart is with you, you are not alone.

To our lost ones, we love and miss you so much…

Laura Higgins - aged 23

Julie McNally - aged 45

Brian Crook (crooky) - aged 37

Vicky Hinxman - aged 32