Ian’s Chain aiming to link families with help
Alan Savill has set up a charity in memory of his son Ian called Ian's Chain and (below) Ian Savill.
The family of a Harborough man who killed himself have launched a charity to help people suffering from mental illness.
Father-of-one Ian Savill (23) took his own life shortly before Christmas.
Now his family have set up the Ian’s Chain charity with the aim of buying a mobile home or caravan for use by people suffering from depression or to provide a break for families mourning the suicide of a loved one.
It has already raised £2,430 with a fishing event held in Grantham last weekend and a number of other fundraisers are being planned.
Ian’s dad Alan Savill, of Harborough, said his son had adored his fiancee Jodie Rawlinson and their young daughter Alyssia.
Mr Savill said: “On the outside to a lot of people he was Ian the clown but inside he hurt so badly.
“His psychiatrist was so upset when he passed away, no one knew what was going on in his mind that day. It must have been total despair.”
Mr Savill said the family wanted to buy a mobile home because a short holiday in a caravan with Jodie and Alyssia a few months before his death had given Ian such joy.
“It will be for use by people who have lost a loved one through suicide or in certain cases those who are suffering from mental illness,” said Mr Savill.
“It will be kitted out with a mobile phone with numbers for various organisation which can help people suffering depression. The ideal will be to have lots of these around the country to we wanted to start in Leicestershire first.”
The charity is called Ian’s Chain because one of the last things Ian did on the day he died was make paper chains with his daughter.
It is working with the Harborough branch of mental health charity Mind, which will refer clients to the scheme.
Musical fundraisers are also being lined up to help the cause, as Ian was a big fan of music, particularly heavy metal.
The first is at The Soundhouse in Leicester at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 11.
Si Staples, lead singer of rock group Slander, wrote a poem about Ian which is being recorded as a single this week to raise money for the charity.
Mr Savill, a DJ at Harborough FM, said they hope to announce an internationally-recognised music artist as their patron in the coming days. Mr Savill has also written a story explaining the issues around suicide which is aimed at youngsters.
He said: “In such a short time I’m really pleased with what we’ve managed to achieve. It’s time like these that people do galvanise for a really good cause because it had affected a lot of people.
“St Dionysius was filled for ian’s funeral and he was only here six years - it just shows he had touched a lot of people .”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
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Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
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