Bedford model club builds creation to raise money for those affected by suicide

Bedford Scale Model Club have created a Battle Of Britain themed diorama to raise money for Mind and Survivors of Bereavement By Suicide.

In July, the group lost one of their younger members, Chris Price, aged 30, he took his own life leaving a partner and two young children. He was a very keen aviation enthusiast and Airfix fan.

The group of active enthusiasts of the scale modelling hobby have got together to raise awareness of the challenges of mental health after losing one of their members this year.

Six of the club's members have created a Battle Of Britain themed diorama in his memory. They created an airfield with three Spitfires on take off, individually marked with the family's initials as code letters with ground crew figures, two vehicles and a Hurricane undergoing maintenance.

Mark Peacock, one of the group members, said: "Aside of three vehicles donated by the base builder and the base itself, they have used Airfix kits throughout.

"It has not been intended to win competition prizes but to reflect our skills base as a club and most of all raise awareness of mental health issues and the effect on those around sufferers.

"We are raising funds for Mind and Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide. We started off with a modest target of £500 which we have breached.

"We now want to aim for £1000 before the end of November."

On the Just Giving page it says: "Our friend and fellow aircraft and scale model enthusiast Chris Price sadly took his own life in July, leaving a partner, Nayomi and two children, Holly aged 7 and George aged 4. He had only just turned 30. Far too young.

"Chris loved airshows, classic aviation and was a skilled and keen aircraft modeller . He was part of our Bedford & District Scale Model Club for a number of years. He had not attended too many meetings recently but was part of our active Facebook Group.

"Some of us at Bedford Club have decided to put our own skills to the test in his memory and produce something that he might have created himself while recognising the importance of both mental health and the well-being of those who are left after tragic events like this happen.

"We want to raise as much as possible for two excellent charities - Mind - who are very much in demand right now - and Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide (SOBS) who have been instrumental in helping Nayomi and the children get through it all and continue to do so.

"So please give as much as you can. Share our link as far as you can. And if you are feeling down, talk to someone."

Mind is a mental health charity, it offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf.

Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide provides support to adults who have been bereaved by suicide.

To make a donation visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-peacock-2 and or more information about Bedford Scale Model Club visit: www.facebook.com/groups/468208923333476/?fref=ts.