Heroin victim’s sister urges openness on addiction

“When he passed away it was terrible. Mum and Dad were devastated.

“If some good is going to come out of this, it should be to encourage others who are going through this to get help.

“We want to carry this message to a lot of people. It could save lives.”

Lubavitch Brighton’s Rabbi Pesach Efune had become close to Mr Gold and was “absolutely devastated” by his death.

“Simon was a lovely, kind-hearted person,” he said. “He obviously had his challenges and he struggled time and time again to overcome them.

“He always wanted to please people. He wanted to make others happy.

“Obviously there still is a taboo in the Jewish community about identifying somebody in your family as someone who struggles with addiction.

“But by bringing it into the open, it will make people feel they are not alone. There are many, many individuals and organisations who want to help.”

A GoFundMe page has also been set up in Mr Gold’s memory and his sister will be running a half-marathon in February for drug addiction charities.

www.GoFundMe.com/simon-golds-memory