A fantastic line up of DJ's will take to the stage to throw a huge party for a charity set up after the tragic death of a much-loved East Lancashire man.
The event, on Saturday, October 8, at St Mary’s Chambers, Rawtenstall, is taking place in memory of Shaun Taylor, who took his own life on October 3 last year after a night out with friends.
The Ginger Heart Foundation, which was set up in the wake of Shaun's death and has recently achieved official charity status, has worked tirelessly since, to raise awareness about the risks associated with taking cocaine and alcohol together.
The Ginger Heart foundation found that alcohol and cocaine, when taken together, produce a third substance called cocaethylene.
Research was carried out by the charity to look at people who had used cocaine and alcohol together and then committed suicide in the early morning 'comedown' period afterwards, with findings suggesting that concurrent alcohol and cocaine use are 'independent' predictors of suicide.
'Independent' means that as far as can be determined there were no other underlying reasons for the suicide and when arriving at reasoned conclusions it can be presumed that these people, without the alcohol and cocaine and the resulting effects of cocaethylene, would not have taken their own lives.
The charity's aim is to raise awareness about cocaethylene with a harm reduction focus, support people dealing with grief, loss and trauma and develop a programme of peer supported community events.
Mandy Naylor, Shaun’s mum and one of the founders of The Ginger Heart Foundation, said: “The focus of the study was those people who had no underlying mental ill health and no predisposing conditions for suicide.
"The research looked at people who consumed alcohol and ingested powder cocaine and who without any warning took their own life.
“The findings of Shaun’s toxicology report suggest that his alcohol levels and cocaine levels were in the same range as those in research studies and that he had cocaethylene present in his system.
“It seems that being with friends is a resilience factor but when people arrive home alone after being out and under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, those artificial catastrophic thoughts become loud, and the impulse to complete an act they never would have contemplated previously is then coupled with an impulsivity that drives them to suicide.”
Shaun was a joiner who worked in his family's firm, and according to The Ginger Heart Foundation, was 'a big ginger force of life', who loved people, including his girlfriend of two years, and was playful, interested in many things including his ancestry, playing and watching football, Marvel, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, history, going out with friends dancing and singing and generally being playful with life.
Following Shaun’s death, there was a huge outpouring of grief in the community, with more than 400 people attending his funeral, and his tragic passing touched many people’s hearts.
In the aftermath, The Ginger Heart Foundation was founded to raise awareness about the dangers of cocaethylene and continue the legacy of love and care that Shaun brought to life.
Mandy went on: “It is so painful to live life without Shaun, he was and is such an integral part of everything we are.
"We are a close family filled with love and care for each other. The world is not as bright without him in it, and we grieve the loss of him daily, that and the unlived life we expected we would all have together.
"If even one person can be saved because of what happened to Shaun then we will know that we have made a difference.”
The evening, at St Mary's Chambers, will be a celebration of his life as well as an opportunity for the charity to spread awareness about their cause.
Some of Shaun’s friends who are also talented DJ's (TwinSound, Eli Jones, Luke Harden and Liam Lord) will take to the stage on the night providing the musical backdrop to the event playing everything from House, Tech House, Deep House, Club Classics and much more.
Fancy dress is encouraged to bring some fun to the evening and movie characters is the theme.
Prizes will be on offer for the best male and female costume.
Tickets are £20 per person and each ticket comes with a glass of Prosecco.
No under 18's are permitted at the event.
Tickets are on sale now from Facebook by heading to: https://www.facebook.com/ShaunyTGingerHeartFoundation
Or Instagram: @Shaunsgingerheart
Or by emailing: team@gingerheart.org or info@stmaryslive.com
If you or anyone you know is struggling with your mental health or are in crisis, you can call Samaritans free of charge on 116 123 - they're available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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