A Letchworth woman is braving the shave for a men’s mental health charity, almost 13 years after losing her dad to suicide.
Kimberley Jeeves aims to raise £500 for CALM – campaign against living miserably – a charity which moves to prevent male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.
The 32-year-old will brave the shave in memory of her dad Andrew Silsby, who died by suicide when she was 19, and pregnant with her first child.
She told the Comet: “In September this year it will be 13 years ago since I lost my beautiful dad to suicide. We don’t know the reasons for it, we don’t know why.
“Life hasn’t been the same since that day and I hope I never go through the hurt, pain and heartache ever again.
“We put it down to not talking or asking for help. He was only 40 when he died, if he was still here now he would be 53 next month.
“I hope the brave the shave gets people talking, raises some awareness and helps men get the mental health support that they need.
“I was thinking about doing it on what would have been my dad’s birthday on July 13 – but it depends if I’m close to my fundraising target by then.”
Kimberley is hoping to raise £500, and so far has raised £210 for CALM.
CALM is an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. In 2015, 75 per cent of all UK suicides were male.
“Suicide rates for men seem to be getting worse,” Kimberley continued.
“Awareness needs to be there. People need to know that it’s okay not to be okay and that you can speak out.
“Talk to anyone, there’s always people that are there to listen, whose doors are always open.
CALM has a helpline which is open from 5pm until midnight 365 days a year, as well as a webchat facility and information on how to get help on its website.
For more information, go to thecalmzone.net, or if you need help call 0800 585858.
To support Kimberley in her brave the shave for men’s mental health, justgiving.com/fundraising/kimberley-jeeves
Kimberley will also donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which provides wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments or other illnesses.
For more information about the Little Princess Trust, go to littleprincesses.org.uk.
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