A MISSION to raise £85,000 to establish a mental health support centre for young men in Barry has seen walkers successfully scale Pen y Fan mountain.
The first #itsoknottobeok fundraiser saw around 50 people trek to the top of Pen Y Fan.
Wearing the powerful #itoknottobeok T-Shirts, friends, family, children, and even dogs, climbed the iconic mountain to support bereaved mum Rachel Degaetano.
Ms Degaetano’s campaign aims to set up a much-needed suicide support centre in the town following the death of seven young men, including her own son Chae.
The sponsored walk in the Brecon Beacons on Sunday June 11th was co-organised by Vicky Gee and Ms Degaetano.
“I really don’t know where to begin,” Ms Degaetano said. “I think it should be at thank you.
“Thank you to each and every single one of you that made the day possible and that did the walk with us.”
Twenty-one-year-old son Chae committed suicide in April 2015.
Ms Degaetano wants to raise funds for the Suicide Support Centre and needs to hit a target of £85,000 to start the facility, to be named Gobaith (Barri).
She has already teamed up with the well-established Jacob Abraham Foundation (JAF) which has a support centre in Cardiff.
The registered charity, soon to be renamed Suicide Support Cymru, was established 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.
“Enough is enough. Something has to be done. We need to support our vulnerable young adults. There are not enough resources, they have nowhere to go, they don’t know how to control their feelings, or even what to do with them. It’s time that changed. They need to know it’s ok not to be ok.” Rachel said.
To donate or find out more visit the Gobaith (Barri) Facebook and Justgiving pages.
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