A CUMBRIAN father who has helped raise more than £1.5 million for a suicide prevention charity is “devastated” after the organisation announced it had collapsed into administration.
Andy Airey, from Morland in the Eden Valley, is one of the founders of 3 Dads Walking, alongside Mike Palmer and Tim Owen.
His daughter Sophie Airey, a former pupil at Kirkbie Kendal School, took her own life in December 2018. She was 29.
Sophie Airey. (Image: Archive)
The trio came together after each lost a daughter to suicide and have since walked thousands of miles across the UK to raise funds and awareness for Papyrus, the national charity dedicated to preventing young suicide.
Papyrus announced today that it had appointed joint administrators after an “extended and extremely difficult period” of trying to secure its future amid rising demand, increasing costs and a reduction in reliable funding.
In a statement, 3 Dads Walking said the news had come as a shock.
They wrote: “This is devastating news for us personally.
“Papyrus has been a huge part of the 3 Dads Walking journey since we first came together after losing our daughters.
“We have walked thousands of miles, spoken to countless people and raised more than £1.5 million because we believed passionately in the work Papyrus was doing to prevent young suicide.”
3 Dads Walking (Image: Jennings Brewery)
The group highlighted the loss of HOPELINE247, Papyrus’ specialist crisis support service for young people experiencing suicidal thoughts and those concerned about a young person.
“Two days before World Suicide Prevention Day, we have lost access to a unique, specialist life-saving service,” they added.
The fathers questioned why a service relied upon by parts of the NHS and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) had been left dependent on charitable fundraising.
“How can a service that is relied upon by the NHS, that specialises in preventing young suicide and that has supported countless young people in their darkest moments be left financially dependent on charitable fundraising?” the statement added.
The charity said it was proud of its work over nearly 30 years supporting young people, families and communities across the UK.
Joint administrators Opus Restructuring & Insolvency are now exploring whether any of Papyrus’ services can be transferred to other organisations.
3 Dads Walking said: “Suicide prevention is not an optional extra.
“It is a public health responsibility.”
