10-year-old who lost father to suicide receives PM medal for fundraising efforts
A 10-year-old boy from Cockermouth who lost his dad to suicide has been given a national award by Boris Johnson to recognise his fundraising efforts.
Shaun Mayall was just three when his dad Andy died in 2014. He was awarded the Points of Light award - an honour given every week day to one person who is making a difference in the community.
Six years on, he's has been raising money for Suicide Bereavement Support by organising fun run in memory of his Dad. The charity have helped him and his mum through their loss.
It started with a plan to run 10km laps around Shaun’s school at Fairfield Primary in Cockermouth dressed as his dad’s favourite character Dennis the Menace. They have now raised more than £4000, as well as gaining recognition from the Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Shaun said, "When my mum came and sat down next to me and told me I had won an award given by the prime minister I was really amazed because I wasn't expecting anything to happen involving the prime minister because my mum's friend had nominated me. My dad's favourite Beano character was Dennis the Menace and I thought if the run is about my dad I should dress up as Dennis Menace. I think he would be really happy and really proud."
Shaun's school and class mates are all keen to get involved in the run and fundraising, his class teacher told ITV Border, "He's taken his own grief and sadness and times of distress and he has turned that round into something positive where he can help other families in a similar situation to him. That is quite remarkable for a child of 10 years old, so we are very very proud of him here."
Shaun’s mum Helen has said the fundraising experience has been good for him to have a focus for his grief.
"When you lose someone through suicide those who has experienced that personally it's on another level, it is the shock, the unanswered questions, the guilt. It is really hard to explain. It's always been a selfish act, oh it is a taboo subject and it is not a selfish act. It is somebody who is so sad that they don't want to be here anymore or they feel they shouldn't be here anymore. It will always be with me for the rest of my life, and it will always be with Shaun for the rest of his life and we will still have challenges ahead but together as a team I think we work really well."
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