A decade without Dan: The search for my brother gave me purpose
Loren O'Keeffe spent years searching the vastness of Australia for her brother Dan who vanished a decade ago. She now works to help families of other long-term missing persons.
On the 15th of July, 2011, 24-year-old Dan O鈥橩eeffe went missing from his parents鈥� home in the state of Victoria, Australia.
The family reported him missing but as there were no suspicious circumstances it wasn鈥檛 classed as a priority by the police and so Dan鈥檚 sister, Loren quit her job and led the long and gruelling search to try and find him, bringing together thousands of strangers along the way through the social media campaign, Dan Come Home.
It would be almost five years before Dan鈥檚 body was discovered close to the family home where he was last seen.
A decade since his disappearance Loren O鈥橩eeffe has now dedicated her life to supporting the families of other long-term missing persons across Australia, using her own experience, knowledge and resources she has founded a charity called the Missing Persons Advocacy Network, which creates awareness for missing persons and supports those who are left behind.
If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this programme the 麻豆社 action line has a list of organisations offering support. Just look online for bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Image: Dan O'Keeffe at the beach
Credit: Loren O'Keeffe
Presenter: Anu Anand
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
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