Sales of Alex’s wristbands will support bereaved kids

A LOCAL girl’s brave decision to open up about losing her father to suicide is set to benefit children who have suffered a similar loss.

Last August Alex Morgan from Santry told about her experience in a YouTube video and she hoped it would encourage parents to be honest with their children when it came to discussing suicide.

The ten-year-old’s father, Andy Morgan, took his own life on New Year’s Eve 2010, devastating her, as well as sister Leanne (19), brother Charlie (8) and mum Joanne Featherstone.

Family and friends set up a foundation in Andy’s name to raise awareness of suicide and mental health and fundraise for support organisations.

After Alex was widely praised on social media sites for her honesty and bravery in the video the Andy Morgan Foundation decided to produce pink wristbands with the #isupportalex hashtag.

The wristbands sold for

?¬2 each and Alex was asked where she’d like the money to be spent.She decided she’d like to support other children who’d lost a parent to suicide.

Thanks to Alex’s selflessness, 11 families are now in line for a Christmas treat from the Andy Morgan Foundation. They’ll each receive a festive gift hamper filled with goodies including family cinema passes, meal vouchers and family zoo passes.

Proud mum Joanne said Alex is only too happy to be supporting children who have suffered as she and her siblings have.

“She’s a great kid,” Joanne told Northside People. “She’s not expecting anything or doesn’t want anything out of this for herself. She’s just glad it’s helping other families out there.

“I think it makes her feel a bit better as well to know that there are other kids like her who have gone through the same thing that she went through.”

The Andy Morgan Foundation is still going strong and last week received a cheque for

?¬2,290 from Pins and Needles Tattoo Salon, which recently held a day of tattooing and donated the proceeds to the organisation.

The foundation has also opened a drop-in centre in Finglas where locals struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts can go for a chat or counselling. The foundation can be contracted through its Facebook page.