Paul Furnell

A man who has transformed personal tragedy into a powerful force for good has been nominated for Local Hero, sponsored by Green Park.

Paul Furnell faced the devastating loss of his “partner, best friend, housemate and work colleague all at once” when Laura died by suicide two years ago.

Despite profound grief and the trauma of discovering Laura, Paul chose to honour her memory by creating ‘Laura’s Lasting Legacy’, a fundraising campaign dedicated to mental health awareness and support for local projects.

Paul took on demanding fundraising challenges, including long-distance runs from Reading to Swanage, Reading to Bristol and, more recently, Reading to Stonehenge.

The challenges have inspired many others to get involved through gigs, charity walks, golf days, pub quizzes, wristband sales, cheese events and other fundraising activities.

“Laura’s Lasting Legacy has not only raised money – currently around £16,000 - but has also seen new friendships form and the people involved generally, being more open around mental health,” the nominator added.

They believe Paul’s determination to create something positive from the darkest moment of his life has had a lasting impact on many local people.

“He has turned the saddest day of his life into a long-term positive and has worked selflessly trying to make a difference.”