3 Dads Walking stop off at Frampton Marsh and Sutton Bridge
Three bereaved fathers who are trekking 500 miles along the east coast stopped off at a village to give a talk.
Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen, who are 3 Dads Walking, stopped off at Sutton Bridge during their current Walk of Hope and were welcomed at the Curlew Centre to share their story since losing daughter Emily, Beth and Sophie to suicide.
The trio walked along King Charles III coastal path, from Boston through Frampton Marsh. They received a warm welcome from the RSPB and had a picture taken at RAF Holbeach Air Weapons Range with a Chinook helicopter, a moment they describe in their blog as ‘surreal.’
3 Dads Walking have become known throughout the country having raised more than £1 million, which has included donations from stars Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, for Papyrus, a charity that works to prevent suicide in young people.
Frank Heinrich-Tiller, trustee of Long Sutton Men's Shed and committee member of U3A Sutton Bridge said: “It was a good event.
“I gave a short power point presentation to set the scene and the 3 Dads gave a really good talk on their campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention and raise money for their telephone service.”
Mr Heinrich-Tiller, 75, provides a listening ear to members of Men’s Shed who may be feeling troubled and having thoughts of suicide and the group provides support.
He said: “My role is suicide prevention and I have had some training.
“There is a great benefit in joining the Men's Shed.
“They were depressed, isolated and lonely and started to feel a lot better.”
His role is to guide the group members onto professional advice and resources and the group also helps him as a widower.
He said: “My wife passed away six years ago and I joined the Men's Shed a few months later.
“It helps me overcome bereavement.
“I don't have thoughts of taking my own life but I am interested in signposting the guys on.”
The 3 Dads Walking have campaigned for the topic of suicide prevention to be discussed on the school curriculum.
Mr Heinrich-Tiller said: “I totally agree with them that we need to talk about these things to air the situation.
“This is a subject that happens all too frequently and should be discussed openly and honestly in schools.
“They told us that 1,500 young people took their own lives in one year and that is only the tip of the iceberg and the more we talk the better it will be.
Mr Heinrich-Tiller added: “Their talk was well-received.
“There were a number of people there who had lost people they knew to suicide.”
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
For more details about the 3 Dads Walking and their 2024 challenge visit: www.3dadswalking.uk- Samaritans offer FREE round-the-clock, confidential support to anyone who wants to talk through their problems, which could include relationship and family problems, bereavement, financial worries, job-related stress, or college and study-related stress.
Call Samaritans on 116 123; calls are free from any phone, or visit www.samaritans.org to find out about the wide-ranging support on offer from Samaritans and other organisations.
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