Following the loss of their son Len at the start of 2022, the couple have dedicated their lives to raising awareness and support for rural mental health.
Through their campaign ‘Len’s Light’ they have raised more than £160,000 for suicide prevention and farming charities, such as the Farming Community Network, Farm Safety Foundation and Papyrus.
The campaign included a tractor drive 2,239 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End, with a stop at the heart of Westminster in the Houses of Parliament, to spread the message that no-one should feel alone in the UK’s rural communities.
As part of the challenge they also produced a ‘5 A Day Checklist’ that people can readily refer to each day. This has been produced as a ‘credit card’ size that fits easily into a wallet or purse and has helpline numbers on the reverse.
“It’s been a challenging year for many farmers across the country but Lynda and Andy have shown that no one in the farming community needs to face these challenges alone.”
NFU President Minette Batters
In September 2023, the couple were also awarded Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award, an award which aims to recognise outstanding individuals making a positive change within their community and inspiring others.
A campaign that has touched the hearts of many
Lynda and Andy were presented with the award by NFU President Minette Batters at the Farmers Weekly Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, hosted by former TV presenter and newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.
Speaking on their achievements with the campaign, Minette said that Lynda and Andy have made a “tremendous impact” and “touched the hearts of many”, not only raising awareness of mental health but raising vital funds towards programmes and organisations that offer rural mental health support.
She added: “Through this award we hope to shine a light on their bravery and resilience in the face of a devastating family tragedy and thank them for their tireless work in encouraging open conversations about achieving positive mental health within the farming community.
“It’s been a challenging year for many farmers across the country but Lynda and Andy have shown that no one in the farming community needs to face these challenges alone.”
Upon receiving the award, Lynda said that they are thankful to “everyone who has supported us all the way along on this journey and we will be carrying on our work to shine a light on mental health issues in the rural community”.
Farmers Weekly editor Andrew Meredith said: “On behalf of the whole Farmers Weekly team I would like to pay tribute to Andy and Lynda for their selfless work that will leave a lasting impact on the whole farming industry. Their bravery in the face of such a catastrophic loss has left an impact on us all and it has been a privilege to help tell their story.”
