Worthing-based suicide prevention charity launches daffodils campaign

Bereaved mum Ann Feloy founded Olly’s Future in memory of her son, Oliver Hare, who took his own life at his family home in Worthing on February 14, 2017.

Four years on, she is encouraging people to place daffodils in a window in their home to remember their loved ones on Valentine’s Day.

Ann has written a Valentine’s Poem, called Daffodils, to mark the anniversary of Oliver’s passing.

She said: “Valentine’s Day is the worst day of the year for me, my husband Chris and our other son Samuel. It is a very hard day for so many people.

“I wanted to do something in my son’s memory, so I wrote the poem and chose the daffodil for a symbol. It signifies rebirth and new beginnings, as well as the coming of spring. It is one of the first perennials to bloom after the winter frost.

“It also stands for the love and light Oliver brought into the world, and which we are keeping alive through the work of our suicide prevention charity, Olly’s Future.”

More than 700 people attended Olly’s funeral at Christ Church, Worthing, on March 4, 2017, and each one was given daffodil bulbs to plant.

The aim of the charity is to share Olly’s love and light to help stop other amazing young people losing their lives to suicide. Visit ollysfuture.org.uk for more information.

Daffodils by Ann Feloy

Put daffodils in the window

The brightest of the bright

To remind us of your presence

To remind us of your light

Although the years are passing

Since last we saw your face

Your memory sustains us

With love and light and grace