A 22-year-old shepherdess from Cumbria who lost a close friend to suicide hopes a sheep sale will help to save young lives.
Eilidh Hortin, of Waverton, has entered a pedigree sale on Saturday August 28 and will be donating money from the sale of a prized sheep to the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.
She also hopes to raise greater awareness of suicide prevention, particularly in rural farming communities like Cumbria.
“I’m trying to turn a negative into a positive. I wanted to raise money for PAPYRUS and lots of people do cake sales or sponsored runs and I just decided to do something different,” she said.
Eilidh lost one of her best friends to suicide in 2015.
“A lot of farmers struggle because they don’t think that they can talk to someone.
“It’s really important to get the message out there that confidential help and support is available and it’s nice to be able to do it through the sheep,” she added.
Eilidh has five pedigree sheep to sell, but she is selling just using one, called Murtles Ever Ready, to raise funds for PAPYRUS.
Around £320 has already been donated through her fundraising page, at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EilidhHortin.
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email [email protected]
