A grieving St Albans mum has raised nearly £10,000 in memory of her two children who both sadly took their own lives.

Leanda Kelly suffered the heartbreak of losing both of her children to suicide after long battles with mental illness.

Steve and Tanya both died aged 44, with Steve choosing to end his own life in part because he didn't want to live longer than his beloved sister.

Tanya ended her life in December 2018 following a long struggle with her mental health.

Leanda told the Herts Ad: "My daughter took a very long route to taking her life because I kept saving her, she chose to destroy her body and I couldn't save her. We watched her take her life in a very long process and it was awful to watch."

Tanya died in 2018Tanya died in 2018 (Image: Leanda Kelly)

In 2019, a music event was held in her memory, raising over £6,000.

Steve was hit incredibly hard by the loss of his sister, with whom he shared many secrets. He fell into addiction, but was four years sober at the time of his death.

Leanda continued: "This time last year I felt like for the first time in my life I wasn't worried about him and wasn't calling him every day to make sure he was still alive."

He died on July 21, just four weeks later. 

She said: "His girlfriend found him dead in his flat, an image we can't ever get out of our heads.

"He was still so hurt inside"

Feeling the need to honour his memory in the same way, she made contact with Pure Colours, a tattoo studio in Hatfield Road, St Albans.

They arranged a semicolon tattoo event, with proceeds going to mental health charity SANE, Mind in Mid Herts and St Albans Action for Homeless.

The event raised over £6,000 in two daysThe event raised over £6,000 in two days (Image: Leanda Kelly)

Semicolon tattoos are seen as a symbol of hope and are commonplace among survivors of suicide attempts.

Leanda explains: "The semicolon tattoo is about showing that your story hasn't ended and you're in control of giving it a happy ending"

Semicolon tattoos are common among survivors of suicide attemptsSemicolon tattoos are common among survivors of suicide attempts (Image: Leanda Kelly)

At the start of June the event at Pure Colours brought in almost £7,000 from 302 tattoos. 

Since then a further £2,000 has been raised in additional donations, with a third event on June 29 added due to popular demand.

As it stands, around £10,000 has been raised.

Every penny raised goes towards mental health support and aiming to prevent future suicides.

"I stood up and spoke at my son's funeral which was so difficult, " Leanda added.

"I can't save everybody, I couldn't save my own children - but people need to talk about mental health.

"Ask people how they are and if they say they're fine, ask them again. Show you genuinely care.

"It's OK to say that you're sad and it's more than OK to say you can't cope."

Leanda powerfully describes losing not one, but two children, as "walking in the ugliest shoes."

As well as the event on June 29, she plans to hold another music night in October, continuing to honour the memory of Steve and Tanya.

If you need someone to speak to, the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123.