Father’s legacy on the rise

Three years after Tauranga man Brad Milne's death, an annual memorial concert in his name to raise awareness of depression is stepping up a gear with comedian Mike King supporting the cause.

Tickets for this month's Brad Milne Memorial Charity Event on Saturday, July 19, have almost sold out.

Brad Milne died in 2011 after a long-term battle with severe depression.

Brad – a husband and father-of-two – died in July, 2011, after battling depression since his late teens.

To raise awareness of the mental illness and suicide awareness, his family created the memorial concert.

Brad's father Colin still suffers feelings of guilt, that he somehow failed his son.

'How I would give anything to have the last couple of days over again, as Brad was actively seeking help through the medical system and us as well.”

He says Brad's children are doing as well as can be expected with no father in their lives.

'Brad would be very proud of them. As for us, you hear the saying that ‘no parent should have to attend their child's funeral'.

'That's so true; it just turns your life upside down.”

He believes more than ever in the importance of depression awareness and hopes this event will help.

'Most people, myself included, can't comprehend someone feeling so bad that they feel there is no other way out.

'John Kirwan's ads saying depression is an illness not a weakness hits the nail on the head. It could be a battle cry against suicide, which kills more people than vehicle accidents.

'Millions of dollars are spent on road accident prevention, maybe more needs to be spent on suicide prevention.”

Brad's brother Lance Milne says Mike King was recruited to help improve crowd numbers after last year's sales took a dive.

'We just wanted something to attract more people, a draw card for people to buy tickets. The first year we had a massive crowd, and we blocked off Wharf St.

'Last year we didn't organise it properly and it was a smaller crowd on a Sunday.”

With tickets limited to about 200, Lance is pleased to announce the event – featuring live bands and an auction at The Crown and Badger – is almost sold out.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling Colin on 07 571 3038. Proceeds go to Acorn Foundation.

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