(If you've ever wondered who Issy was, I'd love to tell you.

Before she became the inspiration behind The Issy Star, before thousands of people wore a little star in her memory, before her story touched so many lives...). THIS I FEEL NEEDS OT SIT ON ITS OWN.

She was simply my beautiful cousin, but to all of us, she was so much more than that. Issy had the most incredible energy. She had this infectious smile that could light up a room, a heart that seemed to have endless space for everyone, and a kindness that made people feel instantly comfortable. She was creative, funny, caring and fiercely loyal. She was the type of person who celebrated everyone else's successes just as much as her own, and if you were lucky enough to be part of her life, you knew you always had someone in your corner.

She wasn't just one of my biggest supporters, she genuinely believed in me. From the very beginning of EAR SASS, Issy was there. She'd spend hours making earrings with me in Scotland, packing orders when I lived in Ascot, chatting about new ideas and getting excited over every little milestone. She celebrated every success as though it were her own.

But more than helping me build the business, she helped hold me together. Whenever my own mental health wasn't at its best, or life felt overwhelming, Issy was the one who would simply wrap me up in the biggest cuddle and somehow make everything feel okay again. I remember one time having such a bad day and her and her mum Sarah just scooped me up inbed and cuddled me and let me cry, it was like having two superwoman capes around me! She had this incredible gift of making people feel loved, seen and safe. Looking back, it's one of the things we all miss most about her.

Outside of EAR SASS, Issy's greatest love was rugby. She played for Maidenhead Rugby Club from a young age and absolutely lived and breathed the sport. Rugby wasn't just something she played, it was her community, her happy place and somewhere she poured her heart into helping others. She proudly represented England Under-18 Touch Rugby, winning medals and making lifelong friendships along the way. She later coached younger players, always encouraging them with the same kindness and enthusiasm that she showed everyone else.

Her friends weren't just her friends, they were her family, Issy loved deeply, she gave everything to the people around her.

Like so many families, we never imagined our lives would change in the way they did. In 2023, our family lost Issy to suicide. She was just 17 years old. There simply aren't words to describe the heartbreak of losing someone so young. Our world stood still and it still does in some ways. Like every family affected by suicide, we were left with questions that can never truly be answered, and a space in our lives that could never be filled. In the months that followed, I found myself thinking constantly about Issy and wanting to do something in her memory. Not because anything could ever take away the pain, but because I couldn't bear the thought of her light simply fading away. We wanted her kindness to continue reaching people, we wanted her name to be spoken and we wanted her story to create hope. So I sat down and designed a simple pair of gold plated star earrings. We called them The Issy Star, which felt perfect. To us, Issy had always been our shining star.

Bright. - can these words sit on their own like this

Beautiful.

Guiding.

From the very beginning, I made one promise. For every pair of Issy Star earrings sold, £5 would be donated to Brave Mind, helping to fund mental health initiatives and suicide awareness through sport, in her name. I hoped the earrings would honour Issy. I never imagined what would happen next. ( Please read the story about The Princess and the Star)