Local woman’s charity event boosts awareness of men’s mental health

A LOCAL woman is holding a charity event to raise awareness of male suicide and to raise funds for Wiltshire Mind. 

Melanie Steel is organising the charity event that she has named Operation Gold Dust, after two male models she knew from doing charity and bridal catwalks died by suicide.  

The event will involve a catwalk, dinner, entertainment from a local band and a display of supercars. 

Melanie said, “When I heard that Jay (Jamie) Hall had died by suicide I was saddened that I hadn’t noticed anything different about him the last time we all saw him. 

“Louis (Ayrton) also died by suicide a few years later and when I heard this news, I decided that I wanted to raise money for a different charity. Jay and Louis were bright, vibrant, smiley and charismatic during the events and on the catwalk. They left holes in the lives of those around them when they died by suicide. I didn’t know them well but I knew them well enough to share some brilliant times on the catwalk. Following Louis’ death, I said I wanted to raise money in aid of men’s suicide. 

“Operation Gold Dust has been created with a team of old and new models. The name of the song comes from DJ Fresh and links to Louis from some nights out. The tagline for the charity event is ‘who are you when no-one’s watching?’ Each and every one of us has many different ‘characters’ that we either portray or others interpret. We can never see how they see us, any more than we can see how they see us.  

“The catwalk element is to show others that although we are up there, we are in character. We may not be as confident as we may seem and who we appear to be, may not be who people think we are. How do we help those who are suffering with their mental health ,when some can cover it so very well?” 

The event was due to be held in 2019, but the Covid pandemic meant this was put on hold. “Now, some years later, I am back with my plan to raise some serious pounds for a deserving Wiltshire charity,” explains Melanie. “I have chosen Wiltshire Mind because they are short of funds and because they are working hard to ensure people get the help they need in Wiltshire and they help those whose mental wellbeing is seriously affected.” 

The event will be held at Five Zeros Supercars in Bradford-on-Avon on Saturday 28th October. Tickets cost £75 and need to be booked. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Melanie via, operationgolddust@outlook.com