R;pple Founder Alice Hendy MBE Addresses a Sold-Out Cricket Match

R;pple took to the field at Sussex Cricket to deliver a powerful message on suicide prevention. As the first cricket club to deploy R;pple, Sussex CCC leads the way in bringing lifesaving conversations to sport.

Last week Alice Hendy addressed a sold-out cricket ground, revealing her powerful personal story and speaking candidly about the devastating impact of suicide.  

The highly anticipated event brought together players, supporters, and staff. But before the match began, the crowd heard a message of hope from R;pple’s founder.

Sussex Cricket partner with R;pple

Sussex Cricket¹ is the oldest professional sports club in the world and one of the 18 first-class domestic county clubs within England and Wales.  

And in 2025, Sussex became the first cricket club to deploy the R;pple browser extension across all staff computers, providing an extra layer of protection for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

“The subject of mental health and suicide prevention is a subject very close to my heart, having lost my only brother in 2017. As such, I am committed to doing whatever we can to help those in need of support, which is so often hidden to even the closest friends, family and colleagues”

Pete Fitzboydon

CEO at Sussex Cricket

Through this partnership, Sussex invited Alice to address a sold-out crowd ahead of one of the most important matches of the year.

"At Sussex Cricket we have a proud history of pioneering new initiatives and embracing innovation. Integrating R;pple into our existing mental health initiatives is a significant step in our mission to support the well-being of our staff. Deploying R;pple across our workstations creates a real safety net, ensuring that immediate support is available to anyone in need.

“We are proud to partner with R;pple on their vital mission to save lives and hope that our example will encourage other cricket clubs to follow suit,” notes Pete Fitzboydon.

Taking home the message

The cricket match is part of R;pple’s wider mission to raise awareness of our digital crisis intervention tool - free for individuals, charities and educators - through community-based initiatives, amplifying the message of suicide prevention through the power of sport.

“After the toss, I had the chance to speak in front of the fan base, sharing my story, and how the club are working with us to enhance suicide prevention through the use of tech,” explains Alice.

To date, the R;pple tool has over 1.9 million weekly active users across 50 countries and territories and has intercepted more than 100,000 harmful searches, preventing the ripple effect caused by lives lost to suicide.  

“One of the highlights of the day was meeting the Sussex team in person - the team who made our partnership possible. It was great to spend some time together and discuss how we can leverage our partnership to support as many people as possible with their mental health,” adds Alice Hendy MBE, Founder of R;pple.

While Surrey eventually won the match, we hope that fans left the ground carrying Alice’s message of hope with them regardless of which team they supported.

“I personally left the stadium buzzing, grateful for the chance to be part of such a unique experience, and I hope other cricket clubs will soon follow in Sussex’s footsteps,” concludes Alice.

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Sources:

1. Sussex Cricket

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