A young woman died weeks before her 21st birthday after battling with mental health problems since she was just 13.
Lauren Bicket would have turned 21 on Monday, May 31 but died three weeks earlier and her family are left to plan her funeral rather than her birthday celebrations.
The tragedy has left them not only devastated but unprepared financially for the costs of a funeral, expected to cost in the region of £5,000, reports Lancashire Live.
Now her friends and family are rallying round to try and help with the arrangements including buying a headstone to remember Lauren from Blackpool.
They also trying to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention with the rest of the money donated going to mental health charity MIND.
Linsey Smith, 43, is best friend to Lauren's mum, Kirsty Gregson, and is going to be shaving off her long hair on Saturday, June 26 for the cause.
She said: "The event will be live streamed from my house in Blackpool from 3pm onwards and it will be Lauren's mum who will be shaving it all off for me.
"I am nervous, I'm mostly worried about my hair growing back grey however that's nothing compared to what this family have been through in the past few weeks.
"Lauren leaves behind her sixteen-year-old sister Lucy and her boyfriend Jordan who lived with the family.
"There are no words to describe the despair the family is going through and I want to help in anyway I can.
"So far I've raised over £200 however there is still a lot more to go. My fundraising page in particular is to raise money for the headstone.
"It's very important we have a place where we can all go and speak to Lauren when we want to and to pay our respects to her."
Lauren was well known around Blackpool for being 'loving' and 'bubbly' and was a keen fisher lady who was a regular visitor to Stanley Park with her boyfriend.
She was ecstatic when she once achieved her personal best and pulled out a huge carp.
Speaking on one of the GoFundMe pages, her family describe her as always smiling, laughing and joking but recognise that it is hard to tell what a person is going through inside and that they wish Lauren could have spoken to them rather than feeling alone.
The family say that if they can help at least one person with their story they will be grateful for others to never go through what they have gone through.
Linsey added: “This is very much about raising awareness too. I, myself, have mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and PTSD and had really low times.
“Last week I watched my best friend on her birthday, May 19, planning her daughter’s funeral instead of celebrating her own birthday.
“After seeing the devastation that Lauren’s death has caused I now couldn’t contemplate suicide. We want to aim to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention as much as we can.”
On Lauren’s 21st birthday, May 31, 21 balloons will be released and Blackpool Tower will be lit up purple with a yellow bow in her memory.
To help the family raise money for a headstone and to sponsor Lindsey's head shave click here and to donate to the funeral arrangement and mental health charity MIND, click here.
You can seek help by contacting Samaritans 24/7 free on 116 123 or by visiting Samaritans.org.
Help is also available from Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.
