YEOVIL NEWS: Diving in at the deep end in memory of sister who took her own life

A YEOVIL woman is hoping to raise a bucket load of cash for charity in memory of her sister who took her own life earlier this year.

Amber Dare is organising a charity five-mile swim in aid of the Somerset MIND mental health organisation.

She had been hoping to raise £500  in memory of her sister Storme-Marie Wyatt – but that total has already been blown out of the water and she and her friends are now aiming for £1,000.

“I felt like my world fell apart when my mum called me on Saturday, January 17, 2015, and told me that Storme had taken her own life,” said Amber. “My sister had had enough of this world – but the thing is, she was normal!

“Did she have mental issues? No, she didn’t. The strange thing is she seemed very together and myself and my parents just did not see it coming.”

PHOTO – TOP: Amber Dare (right) with her sister Storme-Marie Wyatt who died aged 40 in January this year. This photo is seen on Amber's Just Giving fundraising page.

The charity MIND in Somerset is there to help people who need help, but also support the families who are affected by a loved one who has taken their own life.

Amber has arranged to do the charity swim at Goldenstones leisure pool in Yeovil on Sunday (December 20, 2015) – the day before what would have been her sister’s 41st birthday.

It is hoped that Amber and her co-swimmers will combine to collectively swim the five-mile challenge – a mammoth 330 lengths of the Goldenstones pool.

One person taking part in the charity swim is Westfield Academy student Catherine Hyde who has already helped to raise £77.50 by holding a cake stall at school.

“I wanted to do it as a way of donating to the charity because I don’t think anyone should have to battle illness like Storme,” said Catherine. “Nobody should have to feel that way – so the work of the charity MIND is really important as they look to support people with mental health illnesses.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Some of the cakes made by Catherine Hyde which she sold at Westfield Academy on behalf of the charity.

Catherine, who is in her final year at Westfield, admitted that she had been so involved in her mock exams, that she had not really got any sponsorship for the swim – so she quickly came up with the cake stall idea and started baking!

It is also understood that Amber is also planning to hold a fundraising 80s disco on January 17, 2016, to commemorate the first anniversary of her sister’s death.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Amber and to donate to the cause – please checkout her Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/Amber-Dare .

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