On the 30th October I will be walking from Adelaide to Melbourne, 723 K’s. I’m raising Money for a charity called Mind Blank. The charity’s aim is to reduce the risk of youth suicide which is something that’s close to my heart. www.mindblank.org.au In 2005 my Brother aged 21, while serving in the Royal Marines committed Suicide. I will never know the real reason, or what he was thinking when he died. Suicide is a very final act. There’s no apology the next morning or change of mind. There are many days I wish I was next to David on that night, pulling him back!! But the reality is he died that night and my family and I would never be the same again. My two daughters at the time were only 6 and 2. I told Stephanie, the oldest when she was 9. She was going to a school that knew all about David and wanted her to be prepared for any questions she may have been asked by the other children. I only told Nicole last year when she was 14. Both times it was a hard conversation, I wasn’t sure I was saying the right things or making it worse. There was always a worry that if I talk about suicide it somehow makes it an option. It’s an irrational thought but its how I felt. Suicide is something we don’t associate with kids. It’s a frightening statistic but every 3 hours in Australia someone takes their life by the way of suicide, and 15 more 12-17year olds make an attempt. That’s why the Mind Blank resonated with me. 12 -17year olds make an attempt, it just hit me, and even writing this now it’s hard to accept. But I if could somehow prevent 1 young person attempting suicide then the walk will be worth it It was hard to accept our David’s death. I struggled most days going through most of my emotions, anger, guilt, sadness but I never asked for help as I saw it as a sign of weakness. How wrong was I..!!!Asking for help gave me my life back. Thanks for taking the time to read my story and I look forward to sharing my journey with you… #walkforwardy