image source, Andy Beresford
Michelle Beresford would be “so proud of the team sticking together,” said her husband Andy
Workers at a gaming company take part in a 24-hour pool challenge in memory of their boss.
Games retailer Home Leisure Direct was founded in 2007 by Andy Beresford and his wife Michelle in a bedroom in Bristol.
After a decade-long mental health struggle, Michelle took her own life in March 2022.
Her husband and staff will play pool 24 hours a day to help Mind Bristol and her memory.
A host of billiards stars will also take part, including former European and World Champion Ben Flack and World Team Champion Shane Thomson.
image source, Andy Beresford
Mr Beresford said he and his wife Michelle had spoken about supporting a charity the year before their deaths
Mr Beresford said his wife was “so proud of the team for pulling together”.
The couple married in 2010.
Describing her as “the life and soul of the party” and “great fun”, Mr Beresford said Michelle was “one of the strongest and most amazing people” he’s ever met and that the world “wouldn’t be the same without her”.
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Mr Beresford said he and Michelle had previously spoken about supporting a charity for the year.
After “getting over the shock” of her death, he “brought the team together” and they decided to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind, a charity he previously researched while seeking help for Michelle.
image source, Andy Beresford
Mr Beresford described Michelle as “the life and soul of the party”.
According to Mind, one in four people in England suffer from some type of mental health problem each year.
Mr Beresford said after reaching out and noting that the number of people using the charity’s services had skyrocketed, he was determined to do whatever he could “to raise vital funds so they can continue to support those who are asking for help” and “get more people talking about mental health”.
Mr Beresford also plans to take part in a charity skydive and auction, saying they had surpassed their original £10,000 fundraising goal and aim to raise a further £15,000 by June.
image source, Andy Beresford
Mr Beresford said he wanted to help others who were in crisis
“A little bit of me still feels like I’m everywhere. Some days can be good but some days are really tough,” said Mr Beresford.
After Michelle’s death, he began to realize how many people were affected by mental health issues, and the company set up an employee counseling center as a result.
“It’s surprising when something like this happens. It’s surprising how many people tell you – look, that happened to me too.”
image source, Andy Beresford
Mr Beresford said the world “wouldn’t be the same without” Michelle, who took her own life in March 2022
“You just don’t know what’s going on with people’s lives,” he added.
Mr Beresford said that while the stigma surrounding mental health has “improved” recently and people are “more open to talking about their experiences”, he has learned firsthand, “mental health is a hidden struggle that people face have, no matter how open they are about their struggles, can’t always overcome”.
The 24 hour pool game starts at 18:00 GMT on Saturday 11th March at the Supreme Sports Lounge in Bristol.