Hot on the heels of a fabulous Gobaith Girls Pub Fun Run our top racing team are at it again!Nina Lawrence, who sped around our town’s pubs to raise much-needed cash for Gobaith (Barri)’s Suicide Support Centre , is now tackling the Cardiff Half Marathon.
The Support Worker, whose childhood chum Lucinda and nephew Chae both took their own lives, with her fellow runners, Sara and Helena previously netted nearly £1K and now hopes to raise even more.
This time Nina will be joined at the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 7th by Louise Phillips – and everyone is welcome to cheer them along.
Nina said; “Massive thanks to all those who have given so generously and willingly so far. If anyone would like to help raise even more funds, Lou and I have our Sponsor Forms ready and waiting so please get in touch.”
Barry resident Nina, who is married to Rob and has two children Anna and Elinor, is keen to continually try to help those affected by mental health and who need a safe haven in our town.
The Pub Run cash has been added to the £486 in the bank plus the £1728.90 raised by the Sponsored Pen Y Fan Hike in June, the £256 from the August Pub Quiz, and the £840 in facebook donations received…so far.
Gobaith (Barri), which was set up by Nina’s sister Rachel Degaetano following the death of her son Chae and then seven young men, and three young women, to suicide in Barry since April 2015, needs to hit a target of £85,000. To date they have raised just over £4,000 – £880 of which they have donated to the Jacob Abraham Foundation (JAF).
Rachel has teamed up with the well-established organisation which has a support centre in Cardiff. The registered charity, soon to be renamed Suicide Support Cymru, was set up by Jacob’s mother Nicola after the 24 year- old killed himself in October 2015.
Working together, Gobaith (Barri) hopes to replicate JAF’s work to: help prevent suicide through direct intervention with vulnerable people; raise awareness on mental health and/or suicide issues; promote positive mental health, and support people bereaved through suicide, in Barry and the Vale.
Rachel added: “Over the next year we intend to fill in numerous grant applications, set up events, hold coffee mornings and pub quizzes, run marathons, climb mountains, shave heads and jump out of planes. We ask you to sponsor and donate throughout the year. But mostly we ask for your support.
We were too late for our children. Please support us to support the young adults of our community. We intend to do all that we can to help save lives and ensure another family doesn’t have to endure the devastation that losing a loved one to suicide causes. Thank you.”
Gobaith (Barri) which promotes the #itsoknottook Campaign is all about having the courage to stand up and say ‘enough is enough, the strength to keep fighting for our vital Suicide Support Centre, the confidence to celebrate the successes all along the way, and that faith that our community will make a difference for the young people in our town.
Please show your support by making a donation here
Please check out all the Cardiff Marathon details here.
See you at the finish line.
Speak soon.
Mrs SVJ
Sue Vincent-Jones, writing as Mrs SVJ, is a Barry born journalist, editor, and communications specialist. She blogs about Barry – and her life in the wider world, through the eyes of a, quirky and queer, local girl done good.
As a community activist, Sue was an integral part of the Gobaith Campaign for a much-needed Barry Suicide Support Centre. She was Media Lead, and Communications Advisor, for the Group who have now merged with CUBE.
Mrs SVJ, Barry’s Boldest Blogger, can be contacted here.