\n Holly Everson and Faye Wheldon founded Lucy’s Legacy, after their friend Lucy Pearson died aged 37 – shortly after the birth of her second child.\n<\/p>\n
\n Lucy experienced postnatal depression.\n<\/p>\n
\n Holly said:\u00a0“When her first child had hit one she went back to being herself, it was like having Lucy back with us.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Maybe a month or so after her boy [second born] was born she got poorly again, but this time was different.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Holly said that Lucy’s close friends and family “were hoping that she was going to be fine”, but knew “instantly that her spark had gone”.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n She said: “She was saying things like \u2018the kids will be better off without me\u2019, it\u2019s genuinely how she felt.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Lucy\u00a0moved in with her parents – for more support –\u00a0“but things still deteriorated,” Holly said.\n<\/p>\n
\n Lucy spent time in hospital – but died in September last year.\n<\/p>\n
\n Her family and friends, who live near Helmsley, have raised concerns over Lucy’s care and feel that the services that should have helped her\u00a0failed her.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Lucy Pearson (Image: Supplied) “It was just such a long few years, with such a tragic ending, and a preventable death,” Holly said.\n<\/p>\n
\n Both Holly and Faye founded Lucy’s Legacy to raise\u00a0almost \u00a320,000 while collaborating\u00a0with Mind. Their fundraising is to be split between Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind and York Mind.\n<\/p>\n
\n Lucy Pearson with friends Holly and Faye (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n “When they\u2019re older [Lucy’s children] we want to show them what we\u2019ve achieved in helping other mums,” Holly said, adding that they want to help fund training for front-line nurses, specifically in postnatal depression.\n<\/p>\n
\n She added: “This disease is preventable, and that\u2019s the most frustrating thing, raising awareness is vital.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Lucy\u2019s gone, so we\u2019ve got to do what we can do to help people.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Many unsung heroes, like Holly and Faye, are set to be celebrated at the York Community Pride<\/a> Awards 2025.\n<\/p>\n \n With Lucy’s Legacy being a nominee for our Against All Odds category, there are 10 more categories – aimed at recognising the people of York in a variety of fields.\n<\/p>\n \n Nominations can be made via the form here<\/a>. There are still sponsorship spaces open for this year\u2019s awards. Email\u00a0lucy.stokes@localiq.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\n<\/p>\n\n