Published on: 18th October 2022
A Lincolnshire NHS worker is hoping to help others feeling suicidal – 25 years after he contemplated taking his own life.
Andrew Clark, who works as a Legal Services Officer at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), started his mission to walk 1,200 miles in just 12 months in October after being inspired by a suicide prevention conference he attended last month.
Money raised will be equally shared between Lincolnshire NHS charity to support LPFT’s work on suicide prevention and R;pple, which intervenes when a person searches on the internet for methods to take their own life.
And for the dad-of-three, who will soon turn 50, he knows only too well how beneficial it is to have the right support in place.
He said: “I’ve been there at the point where you can rationalise suicidal thoughts so I know what it feels like but thankfully, I’m now very much in recovery.
“There’s a taboo about suicide but the profile needs raising, and I hope I can play a small part in helping to promote the great work being done surrounding suicide prevention.”
Andrew, who is from Dunholme near Lincoln, started walking during lockdown but is unable to do any big walking trips away as he is also a carer.
Nevertheless, he is determined to do all he can to hit 100 miles a month.
He said: “Walking massively helps my own wellbeing but I know that times are really hard for a lot of people at the moment, so I really want to push myself and do all I can to help.”
Fiona Bone, Suicide Prevention Lead at LPFT, added: “We are really grateful to Andrew and wish him all the best with his fundraising efforts.
“The money he raises could make a big difference in helping us to continue our work supporting and educating staff around suicide prevention.”
To find out more about Andrew’s story and to donate visit https://bit.ly/3Tr0gHD
