Three Dads Walking trio, including Shouldham’s Tim Owen, awarded MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours List
A group of dads have been honoured for their fundraising efforts in memory of their daughters.
The Three Dads Walking trio say they are humbled to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List for their fundraising work for the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide in memory of their daughters, Beth, Emily, and Sophie. They have each received an MBE for services to the prevention of young suicide.
Tim Owen is from Shouldham, while Andy Airey is from Cumbria and Mike Palmer lives in Sale in Greater Manchester.
In a joint statement, they said: “The money raised has supported PAPYRUS’ expansion plans to open more hubs in communities across the UK and extend the operating hours of its emergency helpline, HOPELINE247, where people can talk to suicide prevention professionals at any time of any day.
“Their work saves lives but we, as a nation, can do more.
“We can save more lives by educating our young people about the risks they face.
“Suicide remains the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK, so let’s give them the suicide prevention skills to keep themselves and others safe.”
“Their work saves lives but we, as a nation, can do more.
“We can save more lives by educating our young people about the risks they face.
“Suicide remains the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK, so let’s give them the suicide prevention skills to keep themselves and others safe.”
Andy Airey is from Cumbria, Mike Palmer lives in Sale in Greater Manchester and Tim Owen is from Shouldham.
Ged Flynn, chief executive of PAPYRUS, which has its head office in Warrington, said they are delighted that the three dads have been honoured by their country for the remarkable impact they have had and the young lives they have undeniably helped to save.
He said: “Brought together by the tragedy and trauma of suicide – which shattered their lives and the lives of those around them – Andy, Mike, and Tim set out to achieve something positive following the loss of their daughters Sophie, Beth, and Emily.
“In so doing they created something extraordinary, which captured the nation’s hearts.
“Their three walks across the UK have raised more than £1.4 million pounds for PAPYRUS but history will record their true legacy as priceless.
“Together they have helped to start conversations in homes and communities where families were unable or unwilling to discuss suicide.
“These proud fathers, each trying to deal with their own grief in their own way, found a positive path forward together and are now rightly honoured as our heroes.”
