KEVIN KING: Humbling examples of selflessness at Arrow Awards

BEING invited to host awards evenings across Sussex affords me the privilege of meeting some quite remarkable people.
Kevin KingKevin King
Kevin King

So it was last Friday that myself, Anna Bingham and Simon Osborne arrived at Azur, at the Marina Pavilion in St Leonards, to host the Arrow Awards for 2015 – a wonderful evening filled with not only amazing stories but the people who made them happen.

There were tales of bravery, charity, devotion to duty and the overcoming of adversity, as well as hard working businesses and truly humbling examples of selflessness that showed the very best of the county.

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Sadly, I don’t have enough space in this column to ‘big-up’ all of our 13 winners on the night but I did want to tell you about a couple of remarkable women who won the award for ‘Fundraiser of the Year’.

Sisters-in-law Kate and Lex Beckett set up their fundraising initiative to help with the shock and grief of the loss of Kate’s husband and Lex’s brother, Will, who had taken his own life at Beachy Head in January 2013, aged just 42.

They decided that their energies would be best spent helping three charities.

Two do incredible work helping and supporting children with bereavement.

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These wonderful organisations, the national charity ‘Winston’s Wish’ and Sussex based ‘Dragonflies’, help young children to gradually rebuild their lives following the devastation of losing a loved one.

I certainly cannot imagine the depression and desperation felt by anyone who decides that suicide is the only remaining option and the utter emotional carnage that is left behind for the loved ones to deal with is beyond comprehension.

Which is why I was and am so humbled by Kate, Lex and the Beckett family who set up their aptly named, non-profit making group ‘Out Of The Blue’ to help others.

The third charity that benefits is the ‘Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team’ who patrol the cliffs on the lookout for others who are contemplating their own demise.

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Sadly they are much busier than you may imagine but their work is obviously invaluable.

So congratulations Kate and Lex, you are amazing!

• Kevin King presents the breakfast show on Splash FM 107.7 Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am.

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