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Sister urges men to talk after brother's suicide

Louise Fewster, Yorkshireand
Bek Homer, Yorkshire, Yorkshire
News imageMegan Ahmed Picture shows three people sat on a sofa smiling. Woman on far left of picture is wearing a black top and has long black hair. She is sat next to a woman on the right who is wearing a grey top and glasses and has short grey hair. She is sat next to a man who is on the far right of the picture who is wearing a grey top and has a bald head and a ginger beard and moustache.Megan Ahmed
Megan Ahmed, Kade Purvis and their mother Liz Ahmed

The sister of a football fan who took his own life after struggling with his mental health has urged other young men to "speak up" and talk about it.

Kade Purvis, from Whitby, died earlier this year at the age of 27.

Up to 100 people are expected to take part in a sponsored walk from Scarborough to Whitby next month to raise money for the charity The Mental Shift.

Megan Ahmed, 25, said: "It was his final wish for us to organise this walk."

Ahmed said Purvis had been due to take part in the walk before his death.

The Mental Shift, which focuses on young men's mental health, got in touch with the family after their cousin also took his own life last year.

Since then they have been raising money for the charity, including running the Manchester Marathon.

She said Purvis felt that he could "never run a marathon" but wanted to give something back.

"We always joked that he wanted to do the walk, but he would maybe get a few miles in and be ringing home needing somebody to pick him up," she added.

News imageMegan Ahmed Picture shows a man with ginger hair and a moustache and beard wearing a blue short, tie and waistcoat, sat down laughingMegan Ahmed
Megan said Kade Purvis's final wish was for them to organise the sponsored walk

Ahmed said Purvis, who she described as "kind-hearted and gentle", did eventually try and get help for his mental health but became frustrated by the system.

She said the sponsored walk had helped the family "channel all of this hurt and this grief into something positive" and to "fight for that change he can no longer do".

She said the support from the local community "has been incredible".

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In May, Whitby Town FC, the club Purvis supported, announced a memorial to him.

A seat at the club's ground will be marked as A27, bearing the message "Kade - Forever 27".

It is hoped that the walk on 1 August will raise £1,000 for mentoring support for four young men.

Ahmed added: "We urge anybody struggling to speak up and get help, or to get somebody to advocate for you."

A spokesperson from The Mental Shift said: "We are incredibly thankful for the fundraising efforts by the family."

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