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Winners of the 2024 British Farming Awards' Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture award, Andy and Lynda Eadon, have worked tirelessly to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural community.

Mental health charities

As of October 2024, the Andy and Lynda have raised over £222,000 for mental health charities including the Farming Community Network, Yellow Wellies and Papyrus. Their efforts also led to the creation of The Big Farming Tea Break, a nationwide initiative encouraging farmers to come together over a cup of tea to talk, not just about work, but about how they're really feeling. Ìý

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This inspirational couple have turned personal tragedy into a national mission for change. Following the heartbreaking loss of their 22-year-old son, Len, to suicide in early 2022, the Warwickshire farming couple have worked relentlessly to spread the message far and wide around the importance of mental health in the farming community.

Len Eadon grew up immersed in farm life at the family's holding in Napton. Passionate about agriculture, he pursued his dream of studying rural enterprise and land management at Harper Adams University, graduating with a 2:1. With a bright future ahead and increasing involvement in the farm business, Len's sudden passing was a devastating loss to his family and friends. Ìý

Len's Light

Determined that Len's death would not be in vain, Andy and Lynda launched the ‘Len's Light' initiative. Their message was simple but powerful: no one in farming should feel isolated or alone.

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Lynda explained the drive behind the campaign: "It was a case, I think, because it was so shocking, and because so many youngsters got in touch with us, I said, we've got to do something. We just needed to get the message out there to youngsters in particular, to look out for each other." Their advocacy quickly gained momentum, resonating across the UK's rural communities.  Ìý

Tractor relay

The Eadons organised a remarkable tractor relay from John O'Groats to Land's End, making stops at auction marts, farming businesses and even Parliament along the way, becoming the first tractor through Westminster's gates. At every stop, they encouraged open conversations, reminding farmers of the importance of checking in on one another. Ìý

Commenting on winning this award, the Eadons said: "This really means a tribute to our son, obviously he was the main part of our life, and since the loss of him we've tried to stop other families and communities going through that heartache we have.

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"Thank you so much to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian for this dedication to our son. It means so much to the pair of us if the rural community gets together for social events more often, rather than a death or a loss. We do what we feel we need to do, and that's what has motivated us all along, right from the very beginning, we wanted to keep up awareness and keep the whole problem very much alive in people's minds."    Ìý

Lasting impact

Their strength, compassion, and unwavering dedication have left a lasting impact, ensuring Len's legacy continues to light the way for others. 

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