image credit:
Karen Clare, Mother of Abigail Clare
source:
National Family Fund | published:
3 February 2023
"I was first introduced to The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund by my
INQUEST caseworker. I tragically lost my daughter Abigail aged 27 to suicide in April 2020, the beginning of the first Covid lockdown. Abi died in a psychiatric hospital whilst under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act. Her death has had a devastating affect and life will never be the same.
"In the subsequent two years, I have been successful in gaining two very generous grants from The Memorial Family Fund. This enabled me to attend a meeting with Nadine Dorries, (previous Member of Parliament for suicide prevention) and her team. The surplus money was spent on lanyards promoting a charitable bursary fund I had set up in memory of my daughter, Abigail's Army; Daisy Fund.
"The following year due to the generosity of a second grant, I was able to attend the two week inquest into Abi's death which took place 60 miles away from my home.
"To attend such a hearing, to read a post-mortem and watch CCTV of my daughter’s last hours was a crucifying experience but was made more bearable by knowing I could stay in a hotel each night and not have to negotiate the three hour round trip home every day."
"It has been a privilege to have been able to say thank you for the kind and generous financial support I received from the Memorial Family Fund. When I lost my daughter in detention, I believe I became part of a ‘family’ of others who have also gone through similar heartbreaking situations. I believe that we have to support one another and hopefully this donation will go some way in doing this."
Tippa Naphtali, Development & Programmes Manager, said;
“Everyone at the NMPMFF wholeheartedly thanks the family and also Doughty Street Chambers for this wonderful gesture and contribution to the Family Fund - this will very much help in our continued efforts to support affected families in the UK.
“This is by far the largest single donation from a family campaign to the Fund since its inception in 2015, and again we echo the family’s statement that we must all stand together and support one another in order to provide collective help and assistance.”
See NMPMFF grants awarded here >
