On March 10, 2020, Emma Wells’s life took a tragic turn when her cherished daughter Brodie took her own life. When Brodie was just 16 years old, she reached the breaking point of her resilience and made a life-altering choice. Emma was devastated by the news of her daughter’s death, but instead of giving in to despair, she made the conscious decision to do positive things for the world by raising awareness.
Both the unfortunate child and her mother had a soft spot for horses. Brodie also used to be a very skilled show jumper and compete in equestrian events. Recently, Horse & Hound interviewed Emma Wells who spoke about her tragic experience and how she raised thousands of dollars for suicide awareness and prevention.
In memory of her late equestrian daughter
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Emma, Brodie’s mother, traveled 285 miles in 2021 to commemorate her daughter and the 285 other Welsh people who had taken their own lives by suicide the previous year. “As a parent nothing can prepare you for such tragedy,” Emma stated in the interview with Horse & Hound. She goes on to detail how she was laughing and joking with her cherished daughter Brodie at 7 p.m. on March 10, 2020, but by 9:30 p.m., Brodie was gone. Emma went on to say that she felt “ripped away” from everything that was occurring.
Despite the stormy weather in her brain, Emma knew she had two options: “to lie down and admit defeat or to stand up, carry on, and fight on to help others.” Emma chose the second road. In honor of her daughter, she made ‘Horseshoes of Hope’, which are decorated horseshoes that she gives to people who are in need. These beautiful horseshoes are more than just a decoration; they have a message that says “You are not alone” and a hashtag (#DoItForBrodie) that, when scanned, leads the user straight to a website with more connections to resources that provide help and support.
Helping anybody she can
Emma Wells reflected on her happy memories with her daughter while considering how she may be of greater service to others. When Emma thought of how to get more people to pay attention, she thought, “I’d drag a big plastic horse with me.” Her plan is to walk 170 miles, carrying a Resin horse with her. Brodie had been saving up for a “beautiful” show rug created by Equiport, so that’s what the horse will be wearing. Even if the trip to London has not yet been planned in detail, it will be less difficult now that the horse will be equipped with wheels.
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While the horse is heavier than she had anticipated, Emma is determined to take it on the trip anyhow, hoping that it “will survive the journey.” Emma’s journey to London will help collect money for the mental health charities Riders Minds and Papyrus. In the end, she hopes to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health by raising as much awareness as possible. She added, “This is my purpose now.”
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