Charity night boosts mental health group Trust Jack Foundation benefits to the tune of over £800
A fundraiser in Strathaven Rugby Club raised nearly £900 for a newly-formed mental health charity.
Kind-hearted party-goers dug deep for the Trust Jack Foundation.
The charity was set up in memory of Jack Hastie (18), who took his own life last year.
His mum, Helen, is now on a mission to raise awareness of mental health in a bid to prevent others, particularly young people, going through what her son did.
The work of the Lanarkshirebased charity includes raising awareness among young people of mental health issues and trying to stop the issues developing further into adulthood, providing support for them and their families and a range of educational initiatives such as art workshops.
And the trust also provides grants to young people between the ages of 12 and 18 that either have a diagnosed mental health illness or are at high risk of suffering a mental health illness.
The money allows them to pursue an activity which will help them in their recovery through boosting their confidence and self esteem during difficult times.
Trust Jack Foundation also wants to remove the stigma attached to mental health which can prevent those struggling to cope seeking help and support.
Helen, from Stonehouse, said: “We held a comedy hypnotist night in Strathaven Rugby club.
“It was a fantastic night and thanks to Richard Nelson, our hypnotist from Rainbow Entertainment in Carluke.
“We managed to raise a total of £824.18, which was just brilliant.
“Our fundraising coordinator, Debbie Smiles also organised an auction for a signed Rangers ball.
“The foundation was created in the name of my son, who I sadly lost at the age of 18 to suicide after he suffered for about five years with a mental health illness.
“He wasn’t taken seriously when he went to the doctors and was seen as a ‘typical teenager’ and that he would grow out of it.
“Young people have to be believed when they pluck up the courage to speak up about how they are feeling as they may only ever speak up the once and you may never get the chance again to help them.
“It is coming up to a year since Jack’s death and we were delighted to raise as much as we did at Strathaven Rugby Club and have big plans for the future.”
For more information about the foundation’s work go to http://www. trustjackfoundation.co.uk/ index.html