Sisters look to break addiction stigma after loss

A woman whose father died days after her wedding, following a long battle with addictions, wants to "break the stigma" around them and men's mental health.

Michelle Kelly, from Barnstaple, Devon, has set herself a challenge to run 62 miles (100km), one for every year of Gordon's life, in a bid to raise money for a gambling support charity.

She said she had "no idea" that her father, who died in September 2024, had an alcohol and "severe gambling addiction".

"He hid it all of his life from friends and family, and he went from this really happy, healthy, adventurous man who was socialising all the time, to someone who was quite reclusive and would barely leave his flat."

Kelly said: "I think people need to talk more about these things, despite the kind of shame and stigma around it.

"Because in my view, if my dad had not felt that shame, had not felt that judgement, maybe he would have spoken out - maybe he would have told someone.

"Sadly he died not telling a single soul that he was suffering from this kind of invisible addiction".

On Sunday, Kelly will run with her sister Emma, the Barnstaple 10k, as part of the challenge in support of charity Ygam.

Kelly said she "didn't realise how serious gambling harms can be to a person" and believed there was "not enough education" about the issue.

"It's very difficult and it's a very hidden thing."

She added: "It was so easy for someone to hide."

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