A fund has been launched to remember an ‘absolute top guy’ who never stopped thinking of others.
Glenn Sweetman died recently aged 39.
He was an active participant at community organisation Tang Hall SMART – and they have launched the fund “to honour everything Glenn stood for, and to allow Tang Hall SMART to extend its work with people experiencing addiction and poor mental health”.
The organisation’s chief executive Sue Williamson said: “Glenn was one of our people, a fantastic creative guy, who left behind some wonderful writing, art and music.
“He struggled with addiction and mental health, but never stopped caring about others. We organised an evening to honour his creativity, and the room was packed with people who knew and loved Glenn.
“There were readings from a booklet we have compiled of Glenn’s writings, we played some of his compositions, and people had a chance to remember the brightness of Glenn.
“I thought this was important to do, to remember all that Glenn was and all that he gave because otherwise, when someone dies young it can feel unbearable, just thinking of what could have been.”
Glenn died of an overdose in March.
“The Glenn Sweetman Memorial Fund has been created to honour everything Glenn stood for, compassion, hopefulness, resilience, and endless creativity,” said Sue
“Glenn had struggled with addiction and his mental health for many years, and his own writings on the subject are incredibly powerful, but he never stopped looking for something positive in the midst of overwhelming struggles. He was an absolute top guy!”
‘Missed tremendously’
Glenn’s mum Sue Sweetman said: “Glenn was a considerate, compassionate and thoughtful human being. Despite his high intellect, he made some foolish decisions in his younger days, that set him on a very destructive and joyless path.
“He struggled on and off for several years of his life to break free from this devastating disease, because that is what addiction is – coming out on top, on several occasions.
“But ultimately it had a severe impact on his mental health and he would spiral into deep depressions, which led him back to the poisons that were the very cause of all his anxieties and problems in the first place. A vicious circle of cause and effect that is addiction.
Where to get help
“He engaged with Sue and her team at Tang Hall Smart, here he found a community of caring, supportive people, that gave him encouragement and opportunities to work on his art, music and writing.
“He became productive again, and it gave him a sense of self-worth and confidence that had been destroyed by his drug and alcohol dependency.
“Sue and her team do great things in the community, and were a constant in Glenn’s turbulent life, He was always full of hope for a future when he returned from one of his days there. I know he was not the only person they have thrown a lifeline to.
“He was loved by many and will be missed tremendously.
“He would be delighted to know that a memorial fund in his name will be available to help others, who like him, find themselves struggling with life, find a welcoming, non-judgemental community to make the bad days seem bearable.”
Anyone who wishes to donate to the fund, either by buying a booklet of Glenn’s writing, a T-shirt with one of Glenn’s designs, or simply with a donation can do so by going here.
- If you are someone who is experiencing addiction and poor mental health, particularly when this has resulted in a period of homelessness, and you are interested in finding out about how Tang Hall SMART’s courses and sessions might be able to help you, please email [email protected] or text 07725 997342
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