Kate emotionally hugs mom who lost her daughter, 17, to suicide
A mother whose daughter committed suicide in late April shared an emotional moment with the Princess of Wales at Maidenhead Rugby Club this afternoon.
Mother of three Sarah Renton’s 17-year-old daughter Issy Phipps sadly passed away just weeks ago after struggling with depression.
Today Ms Renton met another mother of three, Kate, while visiting the rugby club as part of her Shaping Us campaign, and gifted her a pair of earrings made by her cousin in memory of Issy.
Kate was visibly moved by her interaction with Ms Renton, who coaches the under-14 boys at the club, and put her arm around the mother before giving her a warm hug.
Mrs Renton later said that the princess had promised to wear the jewelery at a later date in memory of Issy.
During her visit to Maidenhead RFC as part of her work on the Shaping Us campaign which focuses on early childhood, the Princess of Wales comforted Sarah Renton, a coach at the club who lost her daughter Issy to suicide at the end of April when she had just 17 years old
A keen rugby player herself, Issy Phipps played for Maidenhead RFC from the age of four, before joining Reading RFC as she got older.
The rugby ace played at provincial level for a number of years and even made it to the England U18 rugby team at the European Championships in Vichy, France last year – where they took home gold medals.
Following her sudden death at the end of April, a charity match was held in her memory between Maidenhead RFC and Macclesfield at Sixways Stadium, attended by Mrs Renton and Issy’s father Simon.
Ms Renton spoke to the Princess of Wales today and presented her with the earrings, which were designed in the shape of stars and the proceeds of which will be donated to a mental health charity.
Issy Phipps (pictured) died by suicide in late April aged 17 after struggling with depression and was described by her mother as a “breath of a breath”
Kate held the earrings in a pink pouch in one hand, hugged the grieving mother and promised to wear them
After the emotional exchange, the princess hugged Mrs. Renton fiercely and promised to wear the star-shaped earrings
Emotionally, Kate turned and hugged Mrs. Renton fiercely, promising to wear them.
After meeting with the Pricness, Ms Renton said: ‘Proceeds from the earrings will go to a charity called Brave Minds, a mental health charity that supports children using rugby clubs’ platforms. Mental health is such an important topic.
“She was amazing, Issy, a real breath of fresh air.
She had great, great friends, surrounded herself with the best people. She owned life, did so well in her A levels, she went on to do an elite rugby programme, she paid touch rugby for England and got a gold medal in the summer.
But she also struggled with depression. Everything was harder than it should have been.
“We thought she was obviously doing better than she was. But I think one of the things we’re looking at is GPs, medications and lack of support.
“She’s kind of put herself in a vacuum. It has affected many parents and children here at the club, but we will get through it together.’
The mother-of-three also praised the princess for visiting the rugby club, adding that it was clear that Kate is “passionate about what she does.”
Maidenhead RFC are still reeling from Issy’s death, which shocked club staff and players.
Steve Bough, the club’s chairman, told the Maidenhead Advertiser at the time: ‘[Issy] was a beloved member of the Maidenhead family. but she was also loved by a much wider rugby family, from England to Reading to university, everywhere really.’
A statement on the Maidenhead RFC Facebook page after her death read: ‘Devastated is not a strong enough word for the Phipps family and all her friends in the rugby family.
“Needless to say, Simon, Sarah, Ethan and Elliot are in our hearts at this tragic time and will receive as much love and support as possible from their Maidenhead RFC family.”
The princess’s visit today was part of the Shaping Us campaign, launched in January by the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood.
As part of Kate’s crusade to improve early childhood development, she wanted to discuss how children’s lives and futures can be improved and enhanced by including sport in the first five years of life.
If you are struggling with your mental health, you can call the Samaritans 24/7 hotline for help and support on 116 123