Michell Kelly’s 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 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 socializing 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”.