Three brave dads who lost their daughters to suicide have been given Pride of Britain awards for an amazing fundraising walk that inspired the nation and raised more than £1m for charity
After enduring the most heart-breaking 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.
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.
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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 earlier this 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.
Andy said: "During our walk we met very many suicide-bereaved parents, all of them said the same thing. It was only after they lost their child that they discovered that suicide was the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK. They all asked 'if suicide is the biggest threat to our children’s lives, why is no one talking about it?’"
Firefighter Mike added: "3 Dads Walking is not a club I want to belong to, but it gives us, as fathers, an opportunity to fight back and maybe make a difference.
"We are all too aware that there are more young people out there falling into despair and see no way out other than to end their own precious lives. There is help out there. There is hope and that's what 3 Dads Walking is about, it's about hope."
The trio will be presented with special recognition awards at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with TSB which will be broadcast on Thursday October 27 on ITV at 8pm, co-hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo in front of a star-studded audience.
Carol said: "Pride of Britain is all about the winners. We have so many nominations, and our team and judges work incredibly hard to make sure we are celebrating the most extraordinary people. Meeting them is the absolute highlight of my year."
Ashley added: "It is always such a humbling experience to meet the Pride of Britain winners. They make you feel good about the world we live in and inspire you to think how you can help to make it a better place."
Among the other awards, is a special for the Lionesses who won became European Champions in the summer and at the same time galvanised a nation and inspired a new generation of girls to take up football.
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