Bar staff at a pub in Swinton are setting up a menopause support network in memory of a woman who tragically took her own life.
47-year-old Charlotte Sumbland, who worked at a Cheshire nail salon, died after struggling with symptoms of perimenopause. Her friend Stacy Stewart, who works at The White Swan, says she is still reeling from the day she found out her friend of 35 years had passed away.
“I still remember the phone call,” Stacy explains. “I just couldn`t believe it. Charlotte and I were so close and had children the same age – our sons, who are 16, were born nine days apart. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing when the news was given to me.
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“Charlotte had been talking a lot about the perimenopause – she felt panicky, stressed and suffered sweats. But I still can't believe she felt so bad that she felt she had no option but to do what she did.
“Part of the reason it's so hard to come to terms with is that Charlotte was always a problem solver. If you had an issue, she'd find a way forward. We had actually been on holiday to Spain the week before and she was enjoying herself but then would start panicking and sighing about her situation.”
Since Charlotte’s death, Stacy says she has heard of other women ‘who feel this desperate’ because of the menopause. “That's why it's important we do something not only to remember her but also to let other women know they are not on their own,” she says.
Last month, Stacy organised a sponsored walk in aid of the Menopause Charity, which works to improve women's and healthcare professionals' understanding of the menopause. The walk from St Anne’s Church in Clifton to Scout Moor in Rochdale culminated in a night at the White Swan to share a drink in Charlotte's honour. Stacy and others have so far raised £7,500 in her name.
The White Swan’s landlady Lyndsey Smethills has now decided to continue spreading awareness around menopause with plans to launch a meeting group at the pub where other women can share their experiences and receive advice.
“We want to organise a group so that women have somewhere to go, to let off steam, to chat and to know they aren't on their own,” Lyndsey explains. “In fact, we'd like to hear from any experts who feel they can help us set up the group and offer guidance to its members.”
Speaking about her fundraising efforts, Stacy added: “We just want to raise awareness about menopause and how badly it can affect people. If one person reads this and realises that it is normal to feel this awful around the time of the menopause and perimenopause they may reach out and speak to someone. It could literally be a lifesaver.”
Discussing Charlotte, she said: “She didn't moan about things and had a cracking sense of humour yet when she started getting these symptoms, whatever we, her friends, said to her just didn’t make any difference - which was completely out of character.
“Women need to speak about the way they feel and know they are not alone and that there are people out there who care and who can help.”
Anyone looking to help set up the White Swan menopause group can email Lyndsey at theWhiteSwan@Joseph-holt.com
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