I lost my Dad when I was 17 to suicide. He was my hero, it shattered my world and for many years I was very lost, confused, and angry. I also felt so helpless and was unable to deal and process what happened. But things started to shift and it 2023 I wanted to do something, I wanted to help but in my way. I decided to quit my job and cycle around the coast of Britain, raising money and awareness of mental health and suicide. This film helped me to explain what and why I was doing it. This was a big deal as even some of my closest friends didn’t know how my dad died.
A film by Tyler Crewes. Featuring Katy Roberts.
instagram.com/saddletosea
Winner of the Judges’ Special Mention Award in the BMC Women in Adventure Film Competition 2025.
Find out more: thebmc.co.uk/women-in-adventure
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Hey, Dad. It’s Katie, your oldest and wisest child. I hope wherever you are, you’re doing okay and happy. You’re going to laugh and you’re going to call me Nata, but you’ll never guess what I’m doing. I’m going to cycle around the coast of the UK, around 3,000 miles of it, and I want to start a discussion about suicide, why it’s happening, and what we can do to help. I want to raise money, and hopefully it’ll help people. For so long, I felt the need to help. I wasn’t sure how, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share our story. I’ve always worried about it defining you and you being judged. But I hope by sharing it, by opening up, it may help someone who’s going through the same and people might be able to relate. [Music] I know I’ll never understand what you went through 17 years ago. I remember asking you what was wrong. I remember being confused and upset and I didn’t understand what was happening. I remember how you told me it was like being in a black hole and you couldn’t climb out of it for so long. I was angry, lost, confused, and I felt so helpless. How could this have happened? How could my beautiful, funny, kind dad hate his own life? But I’m starting to understand, Dad. And I know I couldn’t help you, but maybe I could help someone else who’s going through something similar or who has lost someone to suicide, who needs some help. So, I’m going to get on my bike and I’m going to tell our story. I’m going to cycle through Wales where your family are from. I’m going to cycle through Suffukk where we used to live. I’m going to make sure I meet lots of lovely people along the way to share the journey with. I want to start talking about it, about what you went through, what others might be going through. What saddens me that there are people still suffering and sometimes worry that not much is changing. People talk more about their mental health now, more educated, but it’s still happening. I want to help even if it’s from set to show there is hope that community and movement and getting outside can make a difference. I used to love going out on my bike with you. You taught me to swim which is one of the greatest gifts you gave me. So if I can bring people together on a bike or in the sea and it inspires people to get outside more, join a community or share their stories, then I’ve know I’ve done something and that’s all I’m hoping for. So, I’ll let you know how it goes and I hope it makes you proud. I miss you, Dad. All my love, Katie.
1 Comment
Amazing!