Mum to host charity ball in memory of her daughter

"I just want to make a difference to people. Perhaps if Emily had got the right help, she would not have taken that awful step."

Those are the words of Kerry Anderson, who has decided to "do something positive" to mark what would have been her daughter's 30th birthday.

Emily Rowling was 23 when she took her own life in 2019, and Anderson, 55, will host a charity ball at Pride Park Stadium in Derby on Saturday to raise funds for Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre and Treetops Hospice, which runs a special counselling service for bereaved children.

"Emily was a very a giving person. I think that she would be happy with what we're doing on her birthday," said Anderson.

Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find distressing

Anderson, from Ockbrook in Derbyshire, said her daughter first developed mental health issues during her time at school.

"When Emily was about 16, she got glandular fever and she struggled with sixth form," she said.

"That then developed into myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue."

Anderson said when Emily turned 17, she started to smoke marijuana "recreationally", which then turned into usage that led to drug induced psychosis.

"She wasn't perfect, but she was to me. She was an angel," said Kerry.

"Emily fell into drug induced psychosis. She had completely lost touch with reality and she was quite paranoid.

"She believed that I wasn't her friend. She was living in a house in Long Eaton on her own and she was unreachable.

"I couldn't reach her, I'd lost her. Even though she was still alive, I had already lost her and then she took her own life."

Anderson said she wanted to put the event on to "help children who are struggling".

"The idea behind the ball is to do something positive and raise some money," she added.

"I just want to make a difference to people. Perhaps if Emily had got the right help, she would not have taken that awful step."

Anderson said she wanted to put on an "anything goes" dress code, as a nod to Emily's "free spirit" personality.

"She was so accepting of everybody, really forward thinking," she said.

"She taught me to be accepting of people and be more open minded. She wasn't afraid to be herself and never mind what everybody else thinks.

"Emily was a very a giving person. I think that she would be happy with what we're doing on her birthday.

"She was the sort of person who would help people."

"Emily was suffering from poor mental health. This is about supporting charities that help children and make a difference to their lives.

"If somebody's life can be saved through support given when they were younger, then that's precious."

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