Family raises £10,000 for Samaritans to remember Danielle
A dozen members of an extended westcountry family have handed over a huge fundraising cheque to Samaritans.
The £10,000 donation - one of the largest ever made to the Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch of the charity - was raised to remember Danielle Cornish who died last summer after losing a battle with her mental health.
The handover took place outside the charity’s branch in central Exeter and involved Danielle’s parents Debbie and Steve, their daughter Tayde, and other family members from Ideford, Kingsteignton and Saltash.
The sum was raised chiefly through a 50 mile bike ride fun-day supported by scores of local people and friends of the family, via a JustGiving page.
Danielle, who was born just after the family moved into the village of Ideford near Exeter in 1993, attended local schools and secured a first class honours degree at University College Cardiff before working for the Office for National Statistics.
Danielle’s father Steve, who handed over the cheque in Exeter, says: “After losing my daughter to suicide I wanted to do something positive. That’s when I decided to do a 50-mile bike ride in her memory, raising awareness of mental health and raising as much as possible for Samaritans.
“Friends and family did tea and cakes at the village hall and people came not just from Devon and Cornwall but as far away as Durham, London, Birmingham and Cardiff. It was a fun day with a serious message, and we’ll do it again next year.”
Danielle’s mother Debbie adds: “On the outside Danielle was a strong independent woman with her own house, job and busy lifestyle. She was always baking, knitting, crafting or planning another big walk.
“I feel we must all use the word suicide more freely so we can help those in need.
“Danielle knew how invaluable Samaritans are, and even raised money for them. In her own words ‘Samaritans are the only service I've found consistently amazing and non-judgemental. Every single volunteer I've spoken to has been incredible.’ So raising this money is a small thank you to all those wonderful volunteers.”
Samaritans has more than 200 branches and locations across the UK and Ireland with over 22,000 volunteers in total.
At the Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch there are 120 volunteers who staff telephones 24/7 and do outreach activities including wellbeing talks to local organisations and working with Exeter Prison.
“This is an extraordinary donation to remember an extraordinary person” explains Mel Whittock, director of the local branch.
“We rely solely on donations and fundraising and Danielle’s family can rely on this money being used entirely to help us run our service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We handle over 30,000 calls a year in this branch alone and every penny raised allows us to continue this vital service” she explains.
