Julia’s journey to 26.2

Julia’s Story

In July 2021, Julia’s brother David “Dava” Finnigan died by suicide. ‘He was a force to be reckoned with,’ Julia explains, with her mum, dad, sister, brother, his kids, his nieces and nephews all remembering him for his one-of-a-kind personality, sense of humour, and immense loyalty.

Julia had always thought about running a marathon, but the last few years have been incredibly difficult for her to see herself run ever again. ‘However, roll on a very drunken night in August last year with one of my best and oldest friends, Emma Johnson, and here we are.’ On Sunday 26th April 2026, she will be joining thousands of others taking part in the London Marathon.

With a charity spot in mind, Julia knew she wanted to raise money for Open Door Charity. ‘It is so important for me to raise money for Open Door as it’s a charity very closely linked to my brother Dava. I believe that we should all have a safe place that we can go to where someone is on hand to listen, give advice or just keep you company if that’s what you need.’

‘We live in a very very different world to when I was growing up. Things are openly spoken about now. But the world is a lot harsher. Social media plays a big part in that. I think life is just harder for young people and not too many people understand that. Open Door is that safe space, it is that understanding and more people need to be aware of it.’

Julia’s direct experience with family, suicide and grief has driven her keep Dava’s light fiery and bright, and funding Open Door Charity will actively help us to provide vital mental health support across Wirral and the surrounding areas. If you would like to learn more about Julia’s journey or you would like to donate to her cause, head to her JustGiving page to find out more.

How to get involved

‘To anyone thinking of choosing to take part/start fundraising for a particular cause go for it,’ Says Julia. ‘Charities need our help. And we must choose wisely on who we support.’

‘Big or small, whoever you are raising for, share your story and ask away. You will be surprised by the overwhelming support and generosity of the people you know out there. Know that you can’t do it without them. They’re all apart of your story.’

If you would like to help raise money for Open Door Charity and keep our vital services running, please contact us and we will support you every step of the way, whether it’s a marathon or a bake sale, every penny counts.

*This article contains content referring to suicide. If you or you know someone who may need support, we can signpost to support services that can help.