A HEARTBROKEN sister is spreading the message of male suicide after losing her loving brother recently.
Samantha Lovell has set up a fundraising page with a target of £74,000 to help Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a leading movement against suicide.
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Her brother Christopher Ealden, who was a paramedic at Bracknell Ambulance Station, took his own life recently.
Ms Lovell wrote on the fundraising page that Mr Ealden had battled with depression, autism and ADHD.
She said: "He was loved and liked by so many people and spent his life caring for others. He was a paramedic for South Central Ambulance Service and we are all so proud of what he achieved. He battled with Autism, ADHD and Depression. Christopher's smile could light up an entire room."
The fundraising page hopes to raise money for CALM to prevent other men from taking their own life.
Every week, 125 people in the UK take their own lives and 75 per cent of all UK suicides are male.
Samantha said the fundraising page hopes it can prevent further suicides from happening.
Raising £74,000 would help funds a seat for a professional helpline worker on the CALM helpline for a year.
Just £8 can answer one potentially life-saving call or webchat to the helpline.
She added: "In raising money for this charity, I am hopeful that if even just one life is saved then Christopher's passing hasn't been in vain."
The fundraising page has raised £3,000 with generous donations flooding in already.
Tributes from colleagues and friends have poured in.
Rita Francis said: "I knew Chris as a work colleague but also as a friend, and was saddened to hear what happened. You always think it will never happen to someone you know, but it does. RIP Chris."
Jaie Ealden said: "I wish we'd had the chance to meet, everyone speaks so highly of you and I'm sure we would have had a lot in common. I hope this donation helps others who need it so we have fewer tragedies like this."
Visit: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/ggwq42-for-our-hero to donate.
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