The family of a man who tragically took his own life have been fighting to support suicide prevention in his honour.
Gilbert McLardy was just 50 years old when he died by suicide in May.
The loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle has been honoured by his family through their fundraising towards a suicide prevention charity, raising over £5700.
The family, from Gatehead, have been working to support The Kris Boyd Charity, launched by the Kilmarnock striker who lost his brother to suicide in 2016.
Gilbert’s wife Marryann told the Kilmarnock Standard: “I am so proud and thankful to my whole family. It has been a really difficult time but this has given us a focus.
“The simple things can be the hardest. You will need something done and realise that was something Gilbert used to do and now you have to fill that role.
“The hole left will never been filled. He will always be there.”
Gilbert’s 24-year-old son Mark is a huge Kilmarnock fan and knew about The Kris Boyd Charity through the club. So far the family have raised £5735.57.
Gilbert’s former workmates at East Ayrshire Council raised £1500 by running the Glasgow half-marathon.
Niece Gemma Sinclair and nephew Mathew Hunter also took on the Edinburgh half-marathon and raised £870.
More funds were raised by family and friends at Gilbert’s funeral and a games night organised by his son Mark and daughter Stephanie, 31, at Crosshouse Bowling Club, which included an auction for Manchester United tickets.
Marryann said families suffering the loss of someone to suicide struggle with a lack of support.
“I have to keep going because I have my son and daughter and my grandson Reece,” she said.
“The waiting times for support can be really long. You need support right at the beginning but it can be so hard to get counselling because there’s such a long wait. You also have to be in the right frame of mind to speak about it.
“I think there has to be more awareness of how it feels for those who are left behind after a suicide. Charities like Beautiful Inside and Out are there to help, but you still feel alone.
“The family are organising a family get-together but that will be difficult. Gilbert always had an opinion on anything the family spoke about and now he is not here to voice it.”
For more, visit www.thekrisboydcharity.co.uk
