The family of a Co Antrim woman who died by suicide are to undertake a fundraising challenge in her memory in a bid to use their "pain and anguish as a positive rather than a negative".
Lisa McAlister, who lived in Cushendall, was found at her home on July 17 last year.
The mother-of-two, who was 30, had taken her own life.
Described as someone who had a "kindness like you have never experienced", Lisa had been fundraising to raise money for mental health awareness after struggling with her own mental health.
At the time, she was planning a run,walk, cycle challenge between Cushendall and Carnlough, in a bid to raise some much-needed funds for mental health support charities.
However, due to delays associated with the Covid1-9 pandemic, Lisa passed away before the fundraiser could take place.
Now, almost one year on, Lisa's family are undertaking the challenge in her memory and have so far raised £18,500.
The funds raised are to be donated to two mental health charities - PIPS (Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm) and the Niamh Louise Foundation.
Speaking to the Irish News, Mark McAlister said the response to the family's plan to carry on his sister Lisa's fundraising had been "unbelievable".
"We have messages from here and the other side of the world coming to us," he said.
"We have a lot of well known names who have pledged their support".
Mark, who works as a teacher, said the family and anyone else being sponsored to do the event, would be gathering in Carnlough to then run, walk or cycle to Cushendall - 10 miles around the coast - on Saturday, May 29.
The 30-year-old said families were also welcome to take part as there would be a number of staggered starting points.
"The whole community has got behind us," he said.
"Since we have started this, there has been an outcry. It has been hard for us to listen but at the same time, it has been uplifting that we can make a difference".
The Cushendall man said the family had also been working with mental health charities to develop a strategy to support the well-being of those struggling with their mental health, and also those bereaved by suicide, in the Glens of Antrim area.
"We want to help our community so nobody else has to go through what we went through," he said.
"Lisa was bubbly. She was loud and outgoing. She was the heart and soul of the party.You would never have thought she was having struggles.
"She had a kindness like you have never experienced.
"She can't be replaced. There is an emptiness. She filled every room with her laughter and her personality was huge. We have a huge empty space in our lives".
He added: "We are determined to make a difference. We are going to try and use our pain and anguish as a positive rather than a negative".
***Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/RaceforLisa?
