The family of Graham Thorpe is set to celebrate his memory on 'A Day for Thorpey' during England's fifth Test against India at The Oval. Thorpe, a legendary England batter, tragically took his own life last year after a prolonged struggle with depression and anxiety. He was 55 years old.

A Legacy Remembered

Thorpe will be honored on the second day of the fifth Test, which coincides with what would have been his 56th birthday. The event will take place at The Oval, where Thorpe had a distinguished 17-year county career with Surrey. To honor his memory, specially designed headbands, inspired by the trademark headband Thorpe wore while batting, will be sold to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind.

Raising Awareness

Amanda Thorpe, Graham's wife, spoke to BBC Breakfast about the significance of the day: "That day will be very powerful. We want to celebrate him and his memory. His light was so bright. He'll go on." Their daughter Kitty emphasized the importance of addressing mental health issues: "Death and grief in general isn't talked about enough, considering it happens to everyone. When you add the layer of death by suicide, that makes it even more taboo."

A Stellar Career

Graham Thorpe was a stylish left-handed batsman who became the first England batter in 20 years to score a century on his Test debut against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1993. He went on to become one of only 17 men to reach 100 Test caps for England, amassing 6,744 runs at an average of 44.66. After retiring, Thorpe took on coaching roles with Surrey and England, including during the challenging 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia.

Mental Health Advocacy

In the lead-up to 'A Day for Thorpey', Amanda visited 'Bat and Chat' in Burton-upon-Trent, an initiative by Mind that supports mental health through cricket. The sessions will be renamed 'Thorpey's Bat and Chat', and funds raised from the event at The Oval will help expand this initiative nationwide.

A Call to Action

Emma Thorpe highlighted the importance of sharing their experience to help others: "My dad was quite a private person, so for us to share his and our experience is important to help other people who have gone through similar things." Kitty added, "Our key message is to speak up and reach out for help early on. There is help out there. It needs to be spoken about more."

How to Get Involved

If you're affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, you can find details of organizations that can help via the BBC Action Line. Let's come together to celebrate Graham Thorpe's legacy and support mental health awareness in the cricketing community and beyond.