Royal backing for Fiona's memory (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Royal backing for Fiona's memory

CAMILLA, the Duchess of Cornwall, has donated to a charity in memory of a Sherston woman who committed suicide just over 18-month ago.

The generous gift was made to the Swindon based charity, Project SPEAR, in memory of Fiona Gale, who killed herself by stepping in front of a train near her home on March 2, 2004.

Passionate horsewoman Fiona, who was 29 when she died, had helped look after the Duchess' horses in the days before her physical and mental health deteriorated and she took her own life.

Project SPEAR describes itself on its website as "an organisation designed to combat negativity within individuals."

It offers a befriending service and gives advice and support to people whose personal traumas lead them to self-injure - SPEAR in fact stands for Self Preservation Encouraging Active Response.

It also trains health professionals and staff at prisons and hostels in how to work with individuals who self-injure.

Fiona had turned to the charity for help throughout the 18-months before February 2004 when she entered the mental health unit at Green Lane Hospital in Devizes.

However, she was unable to overcome the demons within which stemmed from being raped as an eight-year-old, again in her late teens and from suffering a debilitating form of asthma in the latter stages of her life.

She died just four hours after the hospital released her, despite her threats of suicide, a decision which resulted in it being criticised at the resulting inquest into her death.

Fiona's mum, Barbara Gale, said of the donation, the figure for which which cannot be disclosed: "It's good to know that in death Fiona can help in a small way to raise awareness of the work of Project SPEAR.

"She was a smashing, courageous daughter who would have been thrilled to know that Camilla remembered her help and sent this donation to Project SPEAR."

Sue Ozolins, who founded the charity eight years ago, said: "What we are trying to do at SPEAR is help people feel more positive about themselves.

"We are trying to adapt their belief about themselves and their beliefs about how the world perceives them."

With just one part-time worker to help her run the charity, which is recognised globally, Sue is grateful for any help received.

She said: "I won't be able to continue on my own for another eight-years.

"I'm not wonder woman, I've got to get other staff in.

"At the end of the day I'm grateful for anything that someone gives me."