By Maddie Sinclair

On September 17 last year my life, and that of many others I know, changed dramatically.

I received the news that a very close family friend of ours, 14-year-old Izzy Dix, who lived in Devon, had taken her own life. And she’d done so after a prolonged period of being bullied; at school, in the community and online.

This news affected me deeply. My heart bled for the pain Izzy must have gone through. I could barely comprehend the anguish her mum Gabbi would now have to live with for the rest of her life.

As a relatively new mum of a baby girl myself, it brought home with full effect just how complicated life has become for young girls.

Izzy was never one to follow the crowd blindly. She was super bright, eager to learn and dedicated, always wanting to do the best that she could.

She was just the type of girl who appeared on the outset to have everything sorted – she was always smiling, often had a considered opinion on things and seemed content in her own skin.

But it just goes to show that appearances can be deceptive.

Gabbi said that after almost two years of torment, Izzy’s calm, confident and happy demeanour changed quickly over a period of about 12 weeks, bringing home just how fragile the self-esteem of teenage girls can be.

Her mum had contacted the school on many occasions pleading for help, but nothing concrete was done because everyone had always viewed Izzy as being so capable.

They were fooled by her facade, which only came crashing down behind closed doors in the arms of her adoring mother, who was struggling to get the help they both needed.

By the start of the new school term in September, the damage had already been done and Izzy made a heartbreaking decision in her bedroom one night that would change many lives forever.

Izzy wanted to change the world. Gabbi and I set up the Love for Izzy Dix campaign as a way of making this happen on her behalf.

Our small but very determined team are lobbying the government for change to the way bullying and cyberbullying are dealt with in society.

Our petition in Izzy’s name has so far attracted more than 142,000 signatures and we are currently in talks to present this to the House of Commons.

Izzy felt really strongly about women’s rights and I know she would want me to use her name to empower young girls, boost their self-esteem and question pre-existing gender stereotypes. In essence, to think beyond pink. I know she did. Her favourite colour was purple.

Follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IzzyDixAntiBullyingMemorialPage and on Twitter at @IzzyDixMemorial. Sign the petition at change.org here. 

Read Maddie Sinclair's blogs at www.gammonand chips.com.