Out Of The Blue
Friday 18th August 2023
Out Of The Blue
Out Of The Blue is a fundraising body established in memory of Will Beckett who took his own life at Beachy Head in January 2013, at the age of 42. This tragedy came as an incredible shock for our family and friends – it came simply ‘Out Of The Blue’.
In the immediate aftermath of Will’s death, our family was supported, guided and inspired by three charities – Winston’s Wish, Dragonflies and The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team. CALM was added a couple of years later to highlight suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Out Of The Blue raises money to support these charities so they can help others like us.
Winston’s Wish provided invaluable advice in the first few days after Will’s death on how to explain the death to our young sons – Tom and Joe. All of Will’s family have benefitted from the information and booklets provided by Winston’s Wish. We feel incredibly grateful to them for their practical advice and compassionate support. Their specific knowledge of dealing with suicide and other violent deaths has been incredibly important for us. They continue to provide counselling to the boys and me - with great compassion and expertise.
Dragonflies, our local child bereavement charity, have shown great support to the family. Tom and Joe have attended support group sessions and an activity weekend alongside other bereaved children. In a group setting the boys have talked about their dad. They have been able to realise that they are not alone in their grief and that they are able to recognise and accept their different emotions.
The third charity we support is the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team. Not only did they support a group of us when our search for Will ended at Beachy Head on that January day, but the work they do is truly humbling when it comes to human duty. We have witnessed first hand the work they do to encourage desperate and broken individuals not to end their lives. The service is staffed by volunteers and relies on donations to help them provide the service they do. Helping to prevent further suicides at Beachy Head would be a hugely positive legacy of Will’s death.
CALM were added due to their incredible work around suicide prevention. Their life-saving helpline and hard hitting campaigns, of which two we have been involved with, have had a huge impact and undoubtedly saved lives and opened the dialogue around suicide.
We would like to thank you all for your continued support and know all the money raised goes to our four amazing charities. We hope all our fundraising also raises awareness and prevents another family suffering the trauma our family and friends suffered.
£100365.16
+£160.00 Gift Aid
raised of £110000 target
by 33 supporters
