Plucky Black Isle woman set to lose lovely locks to support poignant James Support Group cause
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A POIGNANT fundraiser instigated by a Black Isle woman keen to help people affected by suicide will also benefit children with cancer.
Café manager Maru Fraser is ready to shed her beautiful long locks to raise money for James Support Group, set up by Patrick and Wendy Mullery, from Cromarty, after their son James took his own life.
James’ widow, Jodie Mullery, has agreed to cut her friend’s locks next week on the Black Isle.
Mrs Fraser (41), said: “James Support Group is a charity very close to our hearts and it is run day and night by Patrick and Wendy in order to help those affected by suicide.
“The charity was formed after their son James passed away four years ago, leaving a family behind. The group was formed because the family and friends of James have struggled to find any meaningful help here in the Highlands – even though the Highlands has the highest suicide rate in the UK.”
“Mental health is something that we still struggle to talk about and so many people are suffering from it. We need to talk more and make everyone aware of it.”
She said she has lost two friends to suicide in recent years and the support group was for all who were bereaved by suicide, those who currently have suicidal thoughts and those who have had suicidal thoughts in the past.
“Rural isolation is a major factor in poor mental health and suicidal tendencies so Patrick and Wendy’s plans are to expand across The Highlands to make access to services easier for all, particularly people in rural areas,” she added.
“When access to help is poor, this exacerbates the problem for people in those rural areas; they are less likely to reach out for help and support, given the barrier of substantial distances to main city hubs – in their case many rural and coastal areas are approximately a 200-mile round trip to Inverness.
“This is why they want to expand these services currently focused on Inverness, across the wider area. They plan to hold meetings in the other areas – Thurso, Nairn, Aviemore, Invergordon.
“Funding is necessary to pay for venue rents, travel costs and weekly advertising so that people know when and where these support meetings are taking place.”
Ms Mullery, who is 32 years old and also lives on the Black Isle, agreed to cut the hair because she is a UHI student currently studying Level 3 Hairdressing.
She said: “Maru has quite long hair and it hasn’t been cut since December 2019, so we thought of creating an event out of it and raise money for James Support Group at the same time of raising awareness about mental health, which is a big issue in the highlands and all around the world.
“We will also donate the hair to a trust which makes wigs for children with cancer and alopecia.”
Mr Mullery said: “Jodie & Maru are great friends - they must be to do this.
“I think it’s wonderful that Maru has agreed to get her lovely long hair cut to raise funds for our charity, and I am sure Jodie will do a fine job.
“I am also sure that Maru will initially hate it short but will be fine about it once she gets used to the length. Well done both.”
• They started fundraising two weeks ago and to make a donation visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jodie-and-Maru
