Baton of Hope – Fatboy Slim, Chris Boardman and Will Vaulks amongst stars backing UK’s greatest initiative on suicide

Music stars, sporting heroes, Olympians and royalty are all backing the UK’s greatest ever suicide prevention initiative that begins this morning.

The Baton of Hope tour kicks off in Glasgow with an Olympic-style torch being carried by survivors, bereaved households and a number of acquainted faces decided to alter the nationwide dialog round suicide.

Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, will probably be a part of the leg by way of his house metropolis of Brighton.

Olympic champion bicycle owner Chris Boardman, Sheffield Wednesday and Wales International Will Vaulks, former Downing St spokesman Alastair Campbell and psychological well being campaigner Dr Alex George are simply among the 1000’s of individuals collaborating within the tour.

The Royal Family can be anticipated to be represented on the tour – Zara Tindall has already spoken of her help for the initiative.

Baton of Hope was based by Mike McCarthy, a former Sky News correspondent, who misplaced his personal son Ross two years in the past, and a gaggle of different bereaved households and survivors of suicide.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Vaulks mentioned: “The reason I wanted to get involved with the Baton of Hope is because at the age of 13 I lost my Grandad Tom to suicide and then 18 months later I lost my other Grandad Hywel again to suicide.

“I have first-hand experience of the impact this has on the families of these so dearly loved ones and I feel privileged to be invited to help spread a message of hope to as many people as possible so that ultimately we can save lives that are tragically taken by suicide.

“Mental well being actually wasn’t spoke about after I misplaced my grandads, despair was about the one phrase used.”

The 29-year-old added: “We have come a long way since then but we have so far to go as we are still losing a devastating amount of young and old, men and women to suicide.

“It’s the primary time I’ve spoken publicly about my grandads however I really feel the time is true and I’m able to be part of this trigger. Let’s change the narrative on suicide and assist save lives, in order that households like mine and Mike’s do not must lose any extra family members.”

Read extra:
Parents of students who died by suicide call for legal duty of care to be imposed on universities
Calls for public inquiry into ‘systemic failings’ across mental health hospitals
NHS mental health hotline launched in Wales

The tour will go to among the UK’s greatest identified landmarks throughout 12 cities together with among the nation’s best-known sporting venues.

Villa Park in Birmingham, Bramall Lane and Hillsborough in Sheffield, Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, the Cardiff City stadium and St James’ Park in Newcastle are simply among the venues internet hosting occasions on the tour.

Many places will probably be open to the general public who’re inspired to make use of it as a possibility to debate psychological well being and discover out what sensible steps they will take to assist stop suicide.

Alongside the baton route, workshops in suicide prevention and first help coaching periods will probably be held in among the host cities.

The tour is scheduled to finish on 6 July with the Baton of Hope being taken alongside the river Thames and thru well-known landmarks within the capital earlier than it ends its journey in Westminster.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can name Samaritans for assistance on 116 123 or electronic mail jo@samaritans.org within the UK. In the US, name the Samaritans department in your space or 1 (800) 273-TALK