‘Beautiful’ personal trainer mum, 48, kills herself after ‘not being able to cope’ as heartbroken fiancé pays tribute
A "BEAUTIFUL" personal trainer mum killed herself after "not being able to cope" - and her heartbroken husband has paid an emotional tribute to her.
Michelle Sparman, 48, leaves behind two sons - Max, 11 and Sam, 8 - as well as her devastated fiancé Roger Stephens, 51.
Michelle, who lived in Battersea, South London, took her own life on August 28.
Roger paid tribute to his partner, describing her as a "really well-loved person".
He told MyLondon: "She was enjoying herself - she was always smiling and enjoying herself. We came from different places, but she was always there. She was the love of my life.
"But from being the fittest mum ever to not being able to cope at all - it all just got too much, she held it all inside."
He added that he and the kids he shared with Michelle "still feel as if she's going to come home soon".
Michelle and Roger met 29 years ago when they both worked at an educational centre for adults with learning difficulties in Tooting.
"I went to the work place and I saw Michelle going in, I thought she was beautiful. She had white jeans on and a red jumper, she looked cute as anything. And I’ve been with her ever since," Roger said .
Other gutted friends and loved ones left messages online paying tribute to her.
Her local postman wrote: "Sending all our love at this sad time. Michelle will be sorely missed."
Another posted: "There are no words to do justice to how amazing Michelle was and how much she will be missed."
Michelle worked for the Metropolitan Police as a police dispatcher for 20 years before becoming a personal trainer.
She started a business called Fit SW11, a fitness club for women and children held in Battersea Park.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised her efforts, calling her the "Ambassador of Fitness".
She also opened London's first fitness clothing bank, Fitness SW11 Apparel.
She had signed a deal with Decathlon and appeared on radio and Channel 4 to promote her work in the community.
A fundraiser has been launched by Michelle's friend Becks Balson to raise money for her kids' future.
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It has already raised thousands of pounds.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call The Samaritans for free any time, even on a mobile without credit, on 116123.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet, it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun has launched the You're Not Alone campaign. To remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there's nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others. You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123