On the 10th March 2020 my world fell apart completely. My beautiful and talented daughter and only child (Brodie) felt that she could no longer cope in this world tragically taking her own life (she was just 16 years old).
Brodie and I were as close as a mother and daughter could possibly be. We shared a mutual love of animals and the outdoors (especially with horses). Brodie was an extremely talented show jumper and we spent nearly all of our time at the yard and travelling the country show jumping. We loved spending our time together! Brodie also excelled academically and somehow managed to juggle school workload with her busy equine lifestyle. Brodie was predicted amazing GCSE grades in all subject areas at school and was busy planning what she would like to do in the future to achieve her dreams.
During the months, weeks and days leading to losing Brodie, there seemed to be very little change in the way she acted. She continued to make precise notes in preparation for her GCSE exams, she continued to compete at shows and meticulously care for Archie (her horse). Most of all, she continued to tell me that she loved me numerous times a day.
I was aware that Brodie was having difficulties in school during year 11 with ‘friends’ that she had known from an early age. They seemed to be making her feel isolated and turning other friendship groups against her. I had tried to encourage Brodie to let me help and contact the school for support but she was adamant that she was ok and that she was able to ‘deal with it’. Although Brodie was reluctant at the time to have any intervention, I made sure that Brodie knew I was always there to love and support her as I had done throughout her whole life. I truly believed that she would never feel that there was no other way forward than to take her own life. I thought that is what tragically happens to other families! I couldn’t have been more wrong! One minute we were going about our usual life and daily routines and the next, my life and the lives of so many others changed forever…you see, the ripple of a life lost to suicide reaches out further and wider than you could ever imagine.
As a parent nothing can prepare you for such tragedy. For your whole world and everything you live for to be gone within the space of a few hours is beyond comprehensible. At 7pm on the 10th of March 2020 I still had my beautiful girl by my side laughing and joking and by 9.30pm she was gone! My purpose for living, my role of being a mum was just ripped away in a heartbeat and being replaced with only a huge void.
After losing my beautiful girl I realised that I had two choices; To lie down and admit defeat or to stand up, carry on and fight on to help others. I began to understand the huge impact and the rise in poor mental wellbeing and suicide in young people. I began to see the stigma around young people feeling unable to ask for help and support with their mental health and so I began my own journey of raising awareness. Raising awareness to help prevent the loss of more young lives that leave so many parents, families, peer groups and whole communities in utter devastation and heartbreak #DoItForBrodie
Since losing my beautiful Brodie, I wanted to look for a way in which to honour her memory but also to offer help and support to others at the same time.
I began making Horseshoes of hope in February 2022. I thought it was a really lovely way to remember what Brodie loved to do in her life and her love of horses whilst also raising awareness for others.
The horseshoes are made up and decorated by myself. Once made, they are taken by friends and volunteers to be placed in appropriate places around the UK and beyond…hopefully finding their way to someone struggling and in need of support. They each contain a poem for the ’finder’ to read and a QR code to scan to take you directly to the DoItForBrodie website. Here, the recipient can find the relevant help and support they may need.
I have made a few hundred horseshoes to date and I only hope and pray that at least some of them have helped someone struggling with low mental wellbeing or thoughts of suicide.
November 2023 saw me take on a huge fundraising and awareness challenge for mental health and suicide prevention.
On a freezing Saturday morning, I embarked on a huge 157 mile journey from Chepstow to London pulling a lifesize resin horse (weighing in at over 80kg).
The journey saw me take on various pavements, cycle routes and canal paths to be able to make it with Miles (the resin horse) to the London International Horse Show.
There were so many highs and lows along the way but I was so lucky to have such amazing support from family, friends and also strangers throughout my journey.
Along the way, we encountered narrow paths, fallen trees, steps, bad weather and broken parts to Mile’s base but there were always amazing people just at the right time to help me overcome each and every problem.
The high’s definitely outweighed the lows though as human kindness shone through. Hotels along the way were so kind in looking after me and making space for Miles to be safe. People that I had never met before waited along the route ready with drinks, food and lots of support to keep me going. The London International Horse Show gave me such a fantastic welcome and really looked after me as did the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in London for the duration of my stay.
One moment that I will certainly cherish forever is when HRH The Prince of Wales popped out from behind the horse to come and show his support. He was so kind and supportive and helped me to push Miles through the streets of Slough…such a surreal and cherished moment of the trip!
The walk has raised an outstanding £60,000 to date and each and every penny so generously donated has undoubtedly help save lives.
Having Miles alongside me helped break down barriers and opened up hundreds of conversations around mental health and wellbeing. As time has passed, people have expressed to me that they see Miles as a ‘beacon of Hope’ for mental health. Everyone loves to meet him…he‘s become a ’real’, plastic celebrity!!
I only ever expected to walk to London with Miles and that would be it. I’ve since realised that people want to see us walk again…people want to show support and join in…people ARE seeing Miles as that beacon for mental health who breaks down stigma and opens up so many important conversations. This is why I will walk again in September to The Horse of the Year Show, in hope that it may help to save lives. I’ll be walking with my beautiful Brodie in my heart each and every step of the way. She was and is still the most important reason of my life. Brodie is the reason why I‘m who I am now…trying to make a positive difference in this world for others…for you Brodie, always ♥️
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This years walk will begin at the Man of Steel pub in LLiswerry Newport (NP19 4NW). I’d like to say a big thank you to Alison for making this possible.
I will begin walking around 9am but you are welcome to gather prior to this from 7am to cheer us off or perhaps walk a little way with us. It would be so lovely to have a good send off at the start of a very daunting 11 days of walking.
Please note that Miles will be carrying a live tracker along the route so that you are able to locate us to walk with us or cheer us along!
Please see the dedicated route page where you will also find a link to follow the tracker (the link to the tracker will not be active until we begin walking).
Thank you so much for kindly donating ♥️ It really means so much to me. The ‘Donate’ button below will take you to my Just Giving page. The chosen charities are set up as two teams as this is the only way that Just Giving will allow gift aid when raising for more than one charity. With love, Emma x
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