A WREXHAM woman is appealing for support to reach her mental health charity fundraising target.

It is only a matter of weeks until Sandra Roberts takes the plunge with a tandem skydive, raising funds for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), in memory of her brother Brian Roberts. Sandra Roberts lost her brother to suicide more than three years ago.

She said: "Mental health affects everyone and you don't always see the suffering in people till too late. These services need all the help they can and if I can prevent a loss by suicide, to someone else, I will be preventing a future life of sadness and grief to anyone affected by the same loss."

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Sandra added: "This means the world to me to be able to do this fundraiser, in Brian's memory.

"He was a valued part of the community, a local postie in Wrexham for half of his short life. We lost him at 50 and it is the most painful thing to continue without him. There's not a day goes by where I don't think of him

"This will help so many people by helping CALM to continue to reach out to others, including the people left behind affected by a suicide. It's a taboo subject unfortunately but the devastation caused by it, is heartbreaking.

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"You are left a shell of yourself after losing someone this way but my fundraising is giving me a purpose to bring suicide out into the open and try to persuade others that things can change and this is not the only route to take."

Sandra's tandem skydive at Tilstock Airfield in Whitchurch, takes place on May 25, 2024, which would have Brian's birthday month. She said her brother would have been "shocked but proud" at the daring fundraiser.

The jump itself has been paid for by metal processing company Ardagh, who gave Brian his start in life as an apprentice electrician.

Sandra, who works in the Radiology Department at the Maelor Hospital, added: "I am beyond words, grateful at this generosity. I cried."

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Ardagh's generosity means Sandra is closer to her fundraising target of £1,000, with more than £800 raised already.

Several other businesses have helped offer assistance or support, such as donating items for raffles, including Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Blades Barbers, M&S, Odeon cinema, Nandos, Village Bakery, Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Plas Coch pub, Sure to Please, Boots, Pizza Express and Sandra's colleagues at the Maelor Hospital.

She added: "I will always be amazed at the generosity of the businesses who have helped me with this journey so far and I am touched by their readiness to help this cause."

• If you would like to support Sandra's fundraiser, you can donate via her JustGiving page: http://tinyurl.com/yck5p4pf