30 Miles for 30 Years – Help us walk from Elgin to Exeter visiting each of our groups along the way.
We are challenging you to walk, run, jog, skip or sprint 1 mile every day, for the 30 days of April. That’s 1 mile for each of the 30 years that Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide have been supporting those impacted by Suicide loss.
Make sure you keep track of those miles with our mileage tracking calendar!
30 years ago, in April 1991, Alice Middleton set up the first ever Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide support group from her living room in Hull. After losing her brother to suicide, Alice struggled to find anyone she could turn to for support, so she placed an advert in her local paper to find others who had been impacted by suicide loss. With that advert, SOBS was born.
Fast forward to 2021, 30 years on, we are now a National Charity with over 180 volunteers, offering peer led support through our group sessions, national helpline, email support and community forum. We currently have support groups throughout the UK, many of which are offering UK wide, virtual support whilst we are unable to meet face to face….and this number is growing!
Sadly, the need for our services is growing and with that, a need for more groups, more volunteers and more awareness. Join us, as we virtually walk from the Elgin group to the Exeter group, stopping at each of our national support groups along the way, spotlighting the incredible support they are providing.
With our fundraising heroes behind us,
we can ensure that, none of us need to suffer alone.
Day 1 ~ Virtual milers
assemble!
Thank you for signing up to our virtual challenge 
Our virtual walk starts at our most northern group in Elgin, Scotland.
Our Elgin SOBS group was set up in May 2018 and pre COVID-19, were holding their meetings at the Elgin City Football Club. This is the only group in the area and members often travelled long distances to attend meetings. We hope to re-establish this group when COVID-19 restrictions allow.
To read more about our Elgin group see here
Day 2 ~ Virtual milers
you're amazing!
Day 3 ~ Virtual milers
we're impressed!
Day 4 ~ Virtual milers
you’re incredible!
Angela, volunteers for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide and really is a shining star. Not only does she support those impacted by suicide on the helpline, but also coordinates the helpline rota, ensuring there is someone there to take your call. Read more about Angela’s journey to SoBS and her role, here.
Day 5 ~ Virtual milers congratulations!
Our daily milers have skipped through day 4
As we run, walk, skip and jump our way from Hull, through Scunthorpe and onto Doncaster, we wanted to remind you of your huge achievements so far! We are at 70% of our fundraising target raising a whopping £21,293 already!
It costs in the region of £5500 to set up a new support group, £375 train one volunteer and 50p to print one of our support after a suicide booklets.
Your fundraising efforts so far are inspirational, you are all playing a huge part in supporting those bereaved by suicide.
Day 6 ~ Virtual milers
you're doing great!
If you would like to read about the email support team, you can read more here
It isn’t too late to join us on our virtual walk from Elgin to Exeter!
Day 7 ~ Virtual milers
you’re all fundraising heroes!
As we stomp our way from Sheffield to Stockport, we wanted to tell you some more about our volunteer Wyn. She is a group facilitator at our Stockport group and a true fundraising, awareness raising hero!
Read more about Wyn and her fundraising here
It isn’t too late to join us on our virtual walk from Elgin to Exeter!
Day 8 ~ Virtual milers
what a team!
We have jogged, jumped and hula hooped our way from Stockport, through Manchester and have now reached Bolton!!
Meet Janet and Noel, group facilitators for our Bolton group.
Janet and Noel do fantastic work in the community, raising both awareness and funds for our charity.
Let’s all give them both a wave 👋👋
Read more about Janet, Noel and the Bolton group here
Day 9 ~ Virtual milers
you’re marvellous!
Day 10 ~ Virtual milers
you’re all awe-inspiring awareness raisers!
National Helpline: 0300 111 5065
Day 11 ~ Virtual milers
you’re all #SoBSFamily!
We are in Wales! We have marched, skipped and ran our way from Liverpool to Anglesey.
We are proud to announce that we have a new group opening in Anglesey, Wales. When COVID-19 struck in early 2020 all training had to stop. We quickly realised that our incredible volunteers were still keen to take up volunteering roles and wanted to support those bereaved by suicide more than ever! We have now adapted our training and are offering online training to all new volunteers, which means we can continue to grow our support services.
Are you interested in volunteering?
Day 12 ~ Virtual milers
you’re all spectacular!
We have hopped, skipped and fancy dressed our way from Anglesey to Chester. Regardless of your geographical location, our virtual groups are open to all of the UK.
Did you know that we have a Men’s virtual support group “bereaveMENt” which runs on the second Tuesday of the Month? The next meeting is tomorrow:
Tuesday 13th April 2021
All men who have been impacted by suicide are welcome to join this confidential and inclusive group. More information here
Day 13 ~ Virtual milers
nearly half way there!
Day 14 ~ Virtual milers
you did it!
Day 15 ~ Virtual milers
you're half way!
Day 16 ~ Virtual milers
remember why you are doing this!
Day 17 ~ Virtual milers
you’re all inspirational!
Day 18 ~ Virtual milers
you’re all remarkable !
Day 19 ~ Virtual milers
you're all extraordinary!
Karen has been a keen participant in our 30 mile challenge and has raised an amazing £1,743 so far! Donate to her page and help Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide support those impacted by suicide here
Day 20 ~ Virtual milers
you are astonishing!
Day 21 ~ Virtual milers
you are all striding for survivors!
Read more about Geoff’s longstanding involvement with
Day 22 ~ Virtual milers
you're all wonderful
Our daily milers have bossed day 21
We have jogged, leaped and jumped from Aylesbury to our Welwyn & Hatfield Group.
The Welwyn & Hatfield (formally the Hatfield group) was established in Nov 2015 and has been running for just over 5 years. It is facilitated by Sheila Stapleton, Sian Fensom, Kim Scully, Chris Pringis and Maddie Phillips.
Let’s give them all a wave
Read more about the Welwyn & Hatfield group here
Read more about Sheila’s role as a volunteer here
Read more about Sheila’s role as Volunteer Coordinator here
Day 23 ~ Virtual milers
you are all lovely!
Day 24 ~ Virtual milers
how are you feeling?
Day 25 ~ Virtual milers
you are all phenomenal!
Day 26 ~ Virtual milers
you are all exceptional!
Day 27 ~ Virtual milers
you are all brilliant!
Our daily milers have stormed through day 26
We have waved goodbye to Henley-on-Thames and have walked, waltzed and whizzed all the way to Wokingham!
Our Wokingham group has been running since March 2014, so for 7 years now. It was the first group in Berkshire to open and has members from all over Berkshire and some from Surrey.
Hazel facilitates the group supported by Lynne and Roger. They have a new volunteer Adrian, who has joined them this year and would welcome further support from any new volunteers who may want to join their team.
Contact the Wokingham Group here.
Day 28 ~ Virtual milers
we are a team!
Day 29 ~ Virtual milers
we are nearly there!
Day 30 ~ Virtual milers
WE DID IT!
Since losing our son Jonathan to suicide in May 2011, we have done quite a lot of fundraising. We have held boot sales, stalls at fetes, skydives and many, many raffles.
In 2005 we tragically lost Fee – beloved wife and mother, when she took her own life. The shock and loss was enormous and it wasn’t until 2009 when we discovered Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide. This charity has helped all three of us, in different ways, in coming to terms with such a painful loss. It is a loss that you never get over, but their involvement in our lives has helped us to move on but not forget.