London, July 21 (NationPress) Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) is set to pay tribute to former England cricketer Graham Thorpe during the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval.

"The life of Graham Thorpe, who played for both England and Surrey, will be honored on Friday, August 1, during the second day of the last men’s Test Match in the series featuring England vs India," stated Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC).

'A Day for Thorpey' will take place at the Oval Cricket Ground in London, coinciding with what would have been Graham’s 56th birthday. Tragically, Graham took his own life on August 4 last year at the age of 55 after battling anxiety and depression for numerous years.

Graham had a remarkable career, playing first-class cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club and representing England in 100 Test matches. Following his retirement from playing, he embraced various coaching positions within the sport for both Surrey and England.

The event, 'A Day for Thorpey', aims to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind through the sale of a limited-edition headband inspired by what Graham wore while batting for England. These headbands have been co-designed with Graham’s wife Amanda and daughters Kitty and Emma," the statement revealed.

Funds raised from the headband sales and donations will support the rollout of "Thorpey’s Bat and Chat", a project across England and Wales, in collaboration with county cricket foundations and the charity’s local Minds network. This initiative, initially developed by Burton and District Mind, combines cricket sessions with guided psychoeducation over a 12-week period to promote mental health and well-being.

Amanda Thorpe shared her thoughts on BBC Breakfast, stating, "That day will be very impactful. We aim to celebrate him and his legacy. His light was truly radiant. He will continue to shine on."

Kitty Thorpe emphasized, "Discussions surrounding death and grief remain insufficient, despite being universal experiences. The taboo around suicide complicates matters even further. We need to change the narrative and address these issues openly, which is why we are collaborating with Mind to facilitate this change."

Emma added, "My father was a private individual, so sharing his journey with mental health, and our experiences, is crucial for us to help others facing similar challenges. It’s about fostering dialogue to diminish the shame and stigma associated with these conversations."