A charity event in aid of an isle suicide bereavement group will be held in Ramsgate next month.
The event at Breakout escape rooms in Southwood Road, will give people a chance to test their wits in the rooms and make a donation to the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide -Margate (Thanet).
The event has been organised by Breakout co-owner Lucy Stillman.
The Ramsgate mum-of-two says the cause is something close to her own heart after the death of a family member.
The 29-year-old said: “I have decided to raise money for this event because it has affected my family. I would like to help someone to think or take another direction with their life or help another family not to feel the way I and my family do. Life is priceless.”
Money raised goes to the Thanet bereavement by suicide group set up by Margate mum and nan Jackie Bergeron after the loss of her son.
Chris Bergeron was 19 when he took his life in 2013. The teenager had been studying computer science at Derby University and was a typical young man, enjoying time with his friends, holidays and playing his X Box.
Care provider admin worker Jackie (pictured) said: “I had no idea at all that Chris was struggling. He took his life in 2013, it was just two days before he was due to come home.
“Suicide comes with so many additional problems for grieving families. You feel guilty. There has been no chance to say goodbye to your loved one and there is no explanation. There is a stigma.”
Jackie tried to deal with her grief through counselling and other methods but it was the discovery of SOBS that helped her pull her life together again.
She attended two groups in Dartford and Brentford and found being able to share with others in similar situations was key to the healing process.
Last year Jackie moved to Margate and found the isle did not have a SOBS group – so she decided to take the necessary training course and set one up.
She is supported by two volunteers and her daughter Laura who helps with social media.
The group meets in St John’s Community Centre, Victoria Road, Margate, every last Tuesday in the month from 7.30pm till 9.30pm.
Jackie said: “With support from others in a similar situation you can learn to live a life again. It is never the same but you can make a ‘new normal.’”
The group is independently run but comes under the umbrella of the national SOBS charity.
The fundraising event at Breakout takes place on December 15 from 11am. There will also be a raffle and Lucy is appealing for local businesses to help with donations. These can be left at KIC, Millenium Way, Broadstairs, CT10 2QQ for the attention of Ian Wade.
Raffle tickets can also be bought online with payments via Paypal.
Prizes so far include:
£50 voucher from purple ink
House or hair nail session voucher
A photography session from Andreas photography worth £120 with photo
Nando’s and Mecca bingo vouchers
Fairytale tea rooms voucher
One month advert (worth £80) on The Isle of Thanet News
Raffle tickets are £1 each or £5 a strip and the PayPal details are Info@breakout-room.co.uk (send via friends family option), Please reference NAME + CHARITY. Tickets will also be available on the day to purchase,
For more details about the event, or donations, call 01843 319850.
Find Breakout on facebook here
Find SOBS Thanet on facebook here
For further details call 07522 955806 or email [email protected]
Read here: Mum who suffered loss of her teenage son sets up Thanet suicide bereavement support group