A RUNCORN mum left heartbroken after her son’s suicide is organising a charity concert in his memory.

Mum-of-three Joyce Hammond, aged 50, is still struggling to cope with her youngest son’s sudden death on August 20, last year.

Science student and musician, 23-year-old Michael had just completed his degree and was hoping to become a doctor in America.

He took his own life whilst Joyce and her husband, Alan, aged 57, visited her sister in Wales.

Joyce, of The Grange, said: “He was gentle and loved his music. He performed in several bands.

“He was very private. It was only after he died that his friends told me the music he wrote was amazing.

“He only ever had six people at the house, yet at his funeral, I’ve never seen so many kids in my life, hundreds of them.

“They were telling me stories of what my son had done for them.”

Michael was a former pupil of St Augustine's RC Primary School and St Chad's. He was a student at Riverside College and John Moores University.

He performed with the bands Broken Lung, and Fallen Heroes and was offered an opportunity to play gigs in Germany but declined to continue his studies.

Joyce is celebrating his life at ‘Mikefest’, a family fun day, with five aside football and stalls, at The Pavilions in Sandy Lane, on August Bank Holiday Monday, from 12 noon to 8pm.

Live bands, including Michael mates, will perform in aid of Papyrus, a charity dedicated to preventing young suicide.

Joyce, who works as an administrator with BT Warrington, said: “Men think they’re not supposed to cry and get emotional. There is nothing to be ashamed of to feel down.

“Go and speak to someone.

“We’ve got to protect our children.

“If parents suspect something might be wrong, talk to them.

“Michael never hurt anyone. If he had any idea how much devastation his death would cause us, he would never have done it.”

Michael's sister, Nicky, aged 31, plans to climb Mount Snowdon and Ben Nevis to support Papyrus.

You can sponsor her at www.justgiving.com/disneyvsnowdon