ANGUS woman Ashley Wilkie knows only too well the pain and heartbreak of losing a family member to suicide.
On July 5 in 2012 Ashley’s much loved stepfather Ian Heeps took his own life, aged 46.
Ashley, 37, of Kirriemuir, a veterinary nurse, said the family, including her mum, Ian’s partner, Irene Pattullo, 60, were left devastated over Ian’s passing.
Now Ashley and her husband Liam, 32, plan to take part in the Great North Run in Newcastle to raise money for suicide prevention and also highlight the issues surrounding the issue.
Ashley told the Tele today that she had been grieving for four years as well as helping her mum get over her grief.
However, she felt the time was now right to try to raise awareness of what people go through.
She added: “If we can help other people in any way and maybe prevent them going through what we’ve had to go through it will be all worthwhile.
“A series of events preceded Ian’s death so as a family we knew the who, the why, the what, where and when, that was connected to his death and in some ways that has helped us.
“Nothing can prepare you for the grief, the sorrow and the rollercoaster of emotions that follow such a preventable death however.
“Ian didn’t leave a note and that would have been a help to us although we were aware of some of the things he was going through before he took his own life. For many families these answers are never known.”
Ashley said that Ian’s suicide had left a very big hole in the family’s life and he was very much missed by everybody.
She added: “He never even got to meet our daughter Caitlin who is now 18 months.
“He would have been a very proud grandad.”
So far Ashley and Liam have raised more than £1,000 for the Scottish Association for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation.
They hope by taking part in the run on September 11 they will raise even more money.
The couple also have a race night planned in Kirriemuir’s Northmuir Hall on August 20 again to raise money for their chosen charities.
The pair also has a just giving page to raise funds.