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Article from the Northern Echo
- edwardmackenzie2
- Jan 10
- 2 min read
Darlington charity campaign for veteran suicide memorial
The Elysium Memorial Foundation, set up in 2020, has set its sights on raising £50,000 to fund the creation of the monument at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), in Staffordshire, by mid-2026.
The planned memorial, which organisers said will "provide a place for contemplation and gathering for those affected by the loss of a friend or loved one through suicide", aims to also highlight the mental health struggles faced by ex-service members.
Since launching the appeal, the foundation has attracted backing from veteran support groups, businesses and individuals moved by the issue.
With growing momentum, organisers remain optimistic they can reach their funding target - having raised more than £35,000 already.
Charity founder, Ed Mackenzie, 50, of Darlington, said he came up with the idea after a number of former servicemen took their own lives.
He said: "After I stopped serving in 2018, I heard of a few of my friends who had died by suicide. I thought something needed to be done so I did my research and realised there was no memorial anywhere in the UK for veteran suicide.
"I've lost 23 friends from my old battalion to suicide, which is a lot of people. Think about how many other battalions have lost similar amounts and then multiply that to the army, navy and the RAF. It's bad."
One of the key campaign partners working with the charity is Darlington's Andrew Marriott who raised awareness and £14,500 for veteran suicides earlier this year by walking 420 miles from Scotland to the NMA.
Andrew has since teamed up with Elysium Memorial to further the cause through fundraising initiatives.
"I'd been down to the Arboretum for Remembrance Day when I got to discussing the possibility of a memorial," Andrew said.
"I hadn't realised there was already a fund to establish a memorial and it's so local to me. They just need a little bit more help to get over the line, but I think they're well established now it's been approved.
"It's wonderful, I can't believe I didn't know what was right on my door. I wish I'd known about it when I did my walk. It's extraordinary what Ed has done so far, and I'm fully behind getting this memorial built."
The campaign is inviting contributions through its website.
While most of the money raised will fund the monument, a large portion will also be provided to help veterans with mental health issues and bring them together, in an effort to 'prevent suicide in the first place'.
The article is available to read online
Well done Andrew and Ed of course, both such worthy efforts.
Happy 2026 of continuing fund raising.