Dorking mother’s Pilates journey after death of 15-year-old son

A Surrey mother says Pilates has been “like therapy to me” as she aims to raise awareness of youth mental health issues after the death of her son.

Charlene Abdul said she wants to build hope and resilience out of deep sadness after her 15-year-old son Tyler took his life in November.

Ms Abdul, who runs a Pilates studio in Dorking, says she now wants to help others through the activity, raising funds for a foundation set up in her son’s name.

She said: “Tyler was a beautiful, stunning and charming boy.”

Ms Abdul said: “He could have been whatever he wanted and its so sad that all that potential is now not going to be seen.

“I was a totally broken woman and I didn’t even recognise myself, but Pilates was like therapy for me.”

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Ms Abdul said she didn’t think she “would ever laugh again” after the death of her son.

She said that, through her Pilates community, she was able to begin to heal, and now wanted to use the activity as a force for good.

Since her son’s death, Ms Abdul set up the Tyler Abdul Foundation to raise awareness of youth mental health issues.

On 4 October, Ms Abdul says she will take part in a 24-hour Pilates marathon, holding classes through the day and night alongside other instructors to raise funds for the foundation.

She added: “There’s a mental health crisis here in our youth and beyond.

“Suicide does not discriminate by race, class or religion. We are sadly losing our young people to this awful thing and it doesn’t have to be this way.”