When St Albans mum Leanda Kelly lost her beloved daughter Tanya Kordek to suicide after a long battle with mental ill health, her heart was smashed into pieces.
She eventually began planning a fundraising event for mental health charities, encouraging people to have a semi-colon tattoo to represent a sentence which could have been ended but wasn’t.
The symbol has taken on a meaning of hope and prevention for those experiencing suicidal feelings or those affected by suicide, reflecting how someone is able to choose their own ending of their story.
But then Covid hit, and the Stop and Talk tattoo project could not go ahead until last weekend, during which time Leanda’s son Steve Kordek took his own life in July 2023.
She said: “I couldn’t physically save my children. But if we could save someone else’s children somehow that would be amazing.
“Too many children don’t reach out but when they do they need somebody there to hold their hand and walk them out of the darkness.
“I hope that this campaign and the impact of the semi-colon tattoo raises conversations and awareness and lots of money.”
On Saturday and Sunday more than 300 people signed up to receive a tattoo based on the semi-colon at Pure Colours Tattoo studio on Hatfield Road, donating £25 for the privilege. The studio’s tattoo artists all gave their time free of charge, and the £7,400-plus raised will be going to mental health charities including Saneline and Mind in Mid Herts, plus St Albans Action for Homeless.
They included St Albans Times editor Matt Adams and his partner Hillary Childs, and Jez Levy of EYES on St Albans.
Leanda said afterwards: “This weekend has been amazing, I was an emotional wreck, but the love and support from everyone at the fantastic Pure Colours Tattoo studio kept me focused – that and the fact we were doing this for my Tanya and Steve. We raised money, awareness and gave out some much needed hugs. We had people who hadn’t left their homes for ages because of their own difficulties, we had meltdowns whilst waiting which we dealt with with understanding, hugs, tea and biscuits if needed! Everyone had their own personal reason for being there and we all felt that.
“I’ve been asked not to name everyone, because they did this not for recognition. They, us, we, wanted and have accomplished another amazing event, raising money awareness and showing it’s OK to say you are not OK, so Stop and just Talk… we can’t heal everyone but we will have a good try!
“No parent should feel the way I feel, no parent should bury their child and I have buried two.
“This event was an absolute honour to be a part of. Phil and Teresa [of Pure Colours] are amazing humans and surround themselves with more amazing people.
“Keep an eye out for my next event. music at the Pioneer Club on October 5. We are also going to do another day of tattoos for the people who couldn’t make this weekend.”
The next tattoo session will be on June 29.
The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.Matt Adams, editor of the St Albans Times, receives his tattoo.The Stop and Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours studio in Hatfield Road.Leanda Kelly organised the Stop Talk tattoo initiative at Pure Colours.
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