‘My sister died because no-one listened to her’
Sibling doing Great Run to help others with mental issues
AHOSPITAL worker has told of her devastation at the loss of her 20-year-old sister, claiming she killed herself because “nobody listened to her”.
Sarah Wood, from Falcon Lodge, Sutton Coldfield, had her world turned upside down last year when she said Chelsea, from Rubery, took her own life.
The 29-year-old mother-of-three said Chelsea had Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) and had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. But she claimed she was “brushed off” as she tried to access help.
Struggling to cope with her grief, Ms Wood, a housekeeper at Good Hope Hospital, channelled her grief into fitness work. Now she is running the Great Birmingham Run 10k on Sunday, May 1 to raise funds for mental health charity Mind.
She said: “I’d never run before but I wanted to do something in Chelsea’s memory. My sister didn’t want to die.
“She wanted to live her life but she didn’t get any help. I want to run for Mind so they can have the funding they need to help other young people suffering mental health issues.”
Ms Wood’s painful memories of the build-up to her sister’s death in February last year acted as a catalyst to spur her on with her training.
She said she used her time in the gym to channel her grief and her sense of responsibility for what happened into something more positive.
She said: “I blamed myself afterwards and that was really hard to deal with. I started going to the gym on the way home from work and it became my outlet. Chelsea suffered EUPD and had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
“Nobody listened to her or believed her, and she was constantly brushed off by the people who were meant to help. She was the bravest woman I know.
“She worked as a carer and had a
She was constantly brushed off by the people who were meant to help Sarah Wood
massive heart. She was an amazing aunty to my children – she was always so patient with them.
“Thankfully, I have lots of lovely memories but I miss laughing with her and I miss her good heart. I won’t let her memory be forgotten. That’s why I wanted to do the run.”
The half marathon and 10K – which take place on the same day – are open to runners of all ages and abilities, many of whom are raising funds for causes close to their heart, or as a fitness goal.
The 10K route starts in the city centre and takes runners past Bullring and out along Pershore Road to Cannon Hill Park, which marks the halfway point.
Runners then loop around worldfamous Edgbaston Cricket Ground and past Calthorpe Park.