The Andrew Gidney Foundation help to bear The Baton of Hope as it arrives in Manchester
Four supporters of The Andrew Gidney Foundation joined the procession of The Baton of Hope as it made its way through the streets of Manchester yesterday. Joe Curley, Caroline and Amy Godin supported Jude Gidney, mum of Andrew who took his own life, at the young age of 20 four years ago.
#BatonOfHopeUK is designed to be the biggest suicide awareness and prevention initiative the UK has ever seen, opening up necessary conversations and prompting appropriate actions. The specially designed baton is touring UK towns and cities for two weeks this Summer, raising the profile of this issue like never before. Together we can reduce the stigma, and get better at asking questions, listening, and directing people to the right help. Together we can save lives. The statistics show that suicide is the leading cause of death in young people under the age of 35.
Jude was chosen as a bearer and walked with the baton. She joined over 80 other bearers who had lost a son, daughter, parent, relative or friend to suicide starting from the Whitworth Gallery up to St Peter’s square. The mood was respectful and quiet, none of the bearers wishing to be there but showing their support for each other and helping to spread the word about mental health and the need for change.
Jude said “It was so sad seeing us all together, each bearer going through such pain and feeling the loss of their loved one. There were so many brave people putting themselves out there and being counted. All of them wishing change had already happened and that they still had their relative or friend with them. I felt a lot of spirit around the procession of those we’d lost encouraging us. “
Jude was also joined by other well-known parents bereaved by suicide; Mike Palmer of 3 Dad’s Walking and Rebecca Jackson co-ordinator of the Manchester ‘Speak their name quilt’ and The Big Fandango Arts Centre in Bury. Both are also undertaking much needed groundwork in their local communities including suicide prevention training and awareness of mental health support.
The Andrew Gidney Foundation is a registered charity based in Saddleworth, Oldham that was set up in the name of a young man who died because of depression. The foundation aims to support local projects that benefit young people in their confidence and skills. The foundation welcomes contact from local groups that would benefit from support and any one wishing to donate Website: Home | The Andrew Gidney Foundation
Baton of Hope | It’s Time To Start The Conversation (batonofhopeuk.org)
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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