Two women united by grief met for the first time at a Royal Foundation event urging sport to embed suicide prevention. Debbie Beard lost her husband, former Liverpool Women manager Matt Beard, who died in hospital on 20 September 2025, believed to have taken his own life. Amanda Thorpe's husband, former England and Surrey cricketer Graham Thorpe, died by suicide in 2024 after spiralling into depression following his sacking as a batting coach in 2022.

Thorpe has said she believes he would still be alive with more ECB support. Beard died a month after leaving Burnley Women. Both men faced steep declines after job loss.

Thorpe mentioned suicide during therapy sessions his wife only learned of after a serious attempt. The On Your Side toolkit aims to make suicide prevention as routine as warm-ups and training across all sport levels.