Part of this all too familiar story is an incredibly strong pull to discuss policies like gun control or more accessible mental health care that before the traumatic event concerned very few, however impassioned those few were.

FORBES: Newtown: Why Healing Should Still Trump Policy

Donations at the memorial event will be given to childhood bereavement charity Winston's Wish and mental health charity Mind.

BBC: Memorial for Fuller family in Coleford after quarry deaths

He emphasised that budget cuts had jeopardised money allocated to some mental services, but that he would create an action plan for peri-natal services in the event that money became available in the future.

BBC: Peri-natal Psychiatric Services

The race is one of "extreme endurance and mental resilience that pushes you to right to the edge, " said Thomson, who participated in the event the last time it was held but was forced to pull out of this year's competition due to appendicitis.

CNN: How extreme sailors keep from cracking