They are aiming to raise money and awareness

04:53, 18 Jan 2026Updated 08:05, 18 Jan 2026

(Image: Supplied)

Two Bristol women are set to complete a gruelling hike up Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money for suicide prevention and awareness charities.

Jo Robb, 46, from Mangotsfield will summit Africa’s tallest mountain in February with her friend Kim Dixon, in memory of Cameron Williams, who died by suicide in 2024 aged just 19.

Jo’s daughter Millie was in a relationship with Cameron at the time of his death. She got to know him particularly well because he also worked for the family window fitting business while he was dating her daughter.

“He was so positive, eager, keen to learn and just a lovely, lovely boy all round,” Jo said. “It just goes to show how mental health is such a silent killer, like we had no clue at all (about) the extent he was suffering.”

“We had no idea he was feeling like that.”

Cameron, from Downend, died in September 2024 having been left traumatised by the death of his friend and colleague Tyler Carley in a road accident on the Avon Ring Road in December 2023. Cameron was also a passenger in the vehicle and escaped physically unharmed, but tragically never recovered mentally from the devastating experience.

Now, Jo is challenging herself to get to the Roof of Africa with Cameron at the forefront of her thoughts. She and Kim will be raising money for the Cameron Williams Foundation, established in his honour, and mental health charity Suicide Prevention UK.

“The journey will be exhausting, unpredictable, and mentally demanding, much like living with mental illness,” Jo said. “Every step forward represents resilience, hope, and the importance of support when the climb feels overwhelming.”

Jo said her own experiences as a nurse had left her “kicking herself” about not seeing the signs of Cameron’s internal struggles. While she was hoping to raise as much money for charity as possible through her challenge— with the figure sitting over the £1,000 mark at the time of writing —she said raising awareness was equally important.

“I saw a lot of mental health (while working as a nurse) so I was kicking myself thinking, you know, I should really have known these signs,” she said. “But you know, there were no signs, even for a professional like me that deals with mental health.

So basically, the message that I want to send out is talk to someone. Reach out if you’ve got a friend you haven’t spoke to for ages, drop them a text, just anything, any kind words (because) everybody’s going through their own silent battles, really, aren’t they.”

Reach out if you need help

If you are struggling, there are a number of ways to get help. The Samaritans can be contacted day or night through a variety of ways but they’ll answer the phone 24-7 on 116 123.

Your family and friends are there for you too. Suicide doesn’t end the pain, it just shares it around. Those left behind say they will never recover from the agonising loss and the constant regrets and all-consuming thoughts that they might have been able to do something.

Suicide attempt survivors have spoken of hope and how things can get better. Your GP can help or point you to NHS mental health services.