Leeds family were struggling until counselling helped son to thrive
A Leeds couple whose son told them he had suicidal thoughts at 12-years-old are eternally grateful after counselling helped turn his life around.
Steven and Natasha Bate's son Seb, now 14, had regular counselling sessions for a year at The Oakdale Centre in Harrogate after telling his parents how he was feeling in October 2018.
His parents, of Alwoodley, paid for the therapy and set up a fund for parents who may not be able to afford it for their children..
Now keen golfer Mr Bate, 48, has raised more than £18,000 for the fund and has just completed 366 rounds of golf in less than 300 days.
Mr Bate, who completed the majority of his golf challenge at Headingley Golf Club, only had 259 available playing days having lost 49 days to the Covid lockdown from March to May.
He played two 18 hole rounds back to back on numerous occasions in order to complete the challenge.
Mr and Mrs Bate said Seb also received pastoral care at Ashville College in Harrogate.
Mrs Bate said: "Two years ago we as a family were in a very dark place because our wonderful and amazing son Seb was struggling.
"We were all struggling. Through our sheer love for Seb and our determination to make things better we all got some help, from the Oakdale Centre.
"Fast forward two years and our incredible son Seb is thriving now, totally engaged in life, dreaming big and interested in studying psychology.
"It doesn’t matter exactly what he wants to do or be but what matters the most is his will to participate in life fully.
"Without the help that we received from the counsellors at the Oakdale Centre, both individually and as a family, we would not achieve what we have done in the last two years.
"We want as many others to benefit from this as possible and are raising money to create funds to enable those in need who can't afford to access these services."