Nicole Kidman has donated £10,000 to three dads who are nearing the end of a heartbreaking charity walk.
The actress said she was “profoundly moved” by the fathers’ 300-mile trek in memory of the young daughters they lost to suicide.
Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen set off on their Three Dads Walking challenge on October 9.
Andy Airey, who was born in Threlkeld, spent 26 years with George Fisher Ltd, becoming director of the world-famous outdoor equipment supplier and achieving near-legendary status among its regular customers.
Nicole Kidman’s donation, together with £10,000 from James Bond actor Daniel Craig and £10,001 from Manchester United legend Lou Macari, has helped the 3 Dads Walking to raise more than £460,000 for the suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS.
She told the charity: “I saw Mike, Andy and Tim’s story on BBC Breakfast and was profoundly moved by their extraordinary undertaking – what they were walking for, and why.
“Covering 300 miles across the country for PAPYRUS in memory of their daughters – raising money for this vital charity, so that other families would not experience the loss and devastation of losing a child to suicide.
“Three completely brilliant dads, doing a completely brilliant thing, to benefit so many. Ahead of them finishing their epic trek on Saturday, and inspired by Daniel Craig who backed them at the outset of their journey, I am matching his £10,000 to support their excellent fundraising efforts.
“Given the circumstances of the past 18 months and the impact of the pandemic, especially on the young, their work is particularly important right now.
“I would like to dedicate my donation to the memory of Beth, Sophie and Emily.”
The three dads are on schedule to complete their challenge tomorrow morning.
“Nicole Kidman says she was moved by our individual stories of loss and touched by what we dads have collectively set out to achieve. We’d like to say a big thank to Nicole for her generous donation and to every single person who has supported us every step of the way,” said Mike Palmer who lost his 17-year-old daughter Beth to suicide in March 2020.
The three dads will finish their 15-day challenge in the village of Shouldham in Norfolk, home to Tim Owen who also lost his 19-year-old daughter Emily to suicide in March 2020.
“Along the way we’ve had some really powerful conversations. One lady who’d seen us on television said that for the first time she’d been able to sit down with her teenage children and talk about suicide.
“She’d had a frank and open conversation with them about suicide and we hope other families will now do the same,” said Tim.
The dads want to spare other families from the agony of losing a child.
“As dads, we have three different stories to tell but each has the same tragic ending, the devastating loss of a daughter to suicide.
“We want to bring something positive out of the devastation and help PAPYRUS to continue giving hope to young people who are struggling with life,” said Andy whose 29-year-old daughter Sophie took her own life in 2018.
Ged Flynn, chief executive of PAPYRUS, says the walk has been a life-saver: “The three dads epitomise what our charity is all about, turning the tragedy of young suicide into hope.
“Many young suicides are preventable. As the dads end their walk, may the stories of those touched by young suicide continue to enable more life-saving conversations.
“It is remarkable that these proud fathers, who are each trying to deal with their own grief in their own way, have found such a positive path forward together,” said Ged.
The dads’ website: https://www.3dadswalking.uk/ contains moving tributes to their daughters, details of the route, a list of generous supporters and how to donate via their JustGiving page.
The website also allows users to track the walk live, courtesy of www.opentracking.co.uk.
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
