A WOMAN is walking ten miles to raise money for a mental health charity in memory of her brother.

Angela Crook is raising awareness for Calm – the Campaign Against Living Miserably – by walking around Maldon in memory of brother Stephen, who took his own life 11 years ago, aged just 37.

Angela, who grew up in Maldon with her brother, will be walking with her partner Martin and daughters Amber and Maia.

Angela said: “I am doing this because I want to do something positive for this horrendous year and raise awareness.

“Right now, whilst we are living with this pandemic, there are so many people that are isolated and alone. They need our support.

“When I saw Calm’s Lost Hours Walk, I had to sign up to help them to continue funding this essential service.

“They provide a life-saving service, so that anyone can reach out and speak or chat online anonymously to one of their helpline workers.

“Reaching out to someone is so important when you feel alone or need help, whatever the circumstance.

“My brother was alone. If Steve had reached out, then he might still be here. It is heartbreaking.

The Lost Hours Walk is held every October to take a stand against struggling in silence.

Angela added: “I also feel now it is even more relevant and important to encourage people struggling alone and feeling isolated to reach out and connect with someone.

Angela, who bottled up her own feelings when she was diagnosed with cancer in her 20s, said she knows “how hard it is to talk”.

“We never knew that Steve was rock bottom and never expected he would commit suicide, but he did,” she said.

“If he had reached out to someone, he might still be here.

“If what I am doing makes someone realise life is worth living, then this will have been worthwhile.

“Life always throws things at you, and I have had more than my fair share.

“When I had cancer in my 20s I bottled up my feelings and whilst I openly talked about it when asked, I never approached anyone to share my feelings, so I know how hard it is to talk.

“It’s a big step to be courageous, when you are in a really bad place, to reach out to someone. If by my doing this, one person realises life is worth living and makes contact, then it has been worthwhile. No one should feel the need to take their own life, life is for living.”

To donate to Angela’s walk go to lost-hours.co.uk/fundraisers/angelacrook/losthours.