A donation of more than £10,000 has been given to child mental health services in Wandsworth after a fundraising campaign by the family of a teenager who died in May this year.
Sophie Bennett was 19 when she died on May 4 and in her memory, her family and friends have raised £13,298.75 to donate to the Aquarius Ward, part of child and adolescent mental health services at Springfield Hospital, part of the South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust.
As a young teenager, Miss Bennett needed intensive support from the services in Tooting and her family called her recovery there each time “remarkable”.
Sophie Bennett
An extract from her diary read: “I am unbelievably grateful for the support of the places I have been throughout my recovery. Starting with Aquarius ward, the staff all supported me through it all.
“Even when I was at my worse. They did it because they care.
“I need to someday give back what they gave me in some way. I don’t know maybe providing art and craft lessons for the young vulnerable innocent patients who have every right to get better and love life like all the other young individuals out there.”
A tribute to Miss Bennett left by her family called her “beautiful, talented, fun and caring”.
Her family said the fundraising was to honour her wish to give back to the trust.
Chief executive David Bradley said: “We are humbled that Sophie’s family chose to honour her memory in this way. The outpouring of support from the public is a testament to her life as well as the hard working staff we have on the ward.
“These donations will help make life better for patients and ensure we can continue helping to improve people’s lives.”
Tim Tolcher, friend of Miss Bennett, cycled 220 miles in one day, from London to Ilfracombe, and raised nearly £3,800 toward the total.
On his fundraising page Mr Tolcher said: "Sophie was a beautiful, talented, fun and caring person. She was always concerned about others more than she was about herself.
"Her great wish was to support others who struggled with life in the ways that she did. Support for and donations in her memory to the work of the NHS Trust that cared for her is what she wanted."
To support the charity go to http://bit.ly/29xoaQh.
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