This is the moment three brave dads who lost their daughters to suicide were handed a Pride of Britain award. Their amazing fundraising walk that inspired the nation and raised more than £1m for charity bagged them a special recognition gong.
After enduring the most heartbreaking loss imaginable, Andy Airey, 61, from Cumbria; Mike Palmer, 57, from Sale; and Tim Owen, 52, from Norfolk, forged a close bond when they met through the suicide prevention charity, Papyrus.
The trio were presented with special recognition awards at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with TSB. The awards will be broadcast tonight - Thursday, October 27 - on ITV at 8pm, co-hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo in front of a star-studded audience.
Andy’s 29-year-old daughter Sophie died just before Christmas 2018. Mike's daughter Beth was just 17 when she took her own life in March 2020, a few days after Tim's 18-year-old daughter Emily, who like Beth, felt overwhelmed by pandemic restrictions, passed away.
READ MORE: Three brave dads who inspired the nation
The trio came up with the idea of a sponsored walk between their homes in Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Norfolk to raise funds for Papyrus, and awareness of suicide in young people.
Their initial target was £3,000, but as word of their challenge spread, donations hit a staggering £1m last week.
They met hundreds of people affected by suicide over the course of their 15-day walk and campaigned for additional mental health support in schools.
Their next walk saw the dads trekking 550 miles over 31 days, taking in all four UK parliaments, ending on 10th October 2022, World Mental Health Day, and taking their fund-raising total to more than £1m.
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