Bondholders urged to back bid to bring Baton of Hope to Derby

Marketing Derby is urging its Bondholders to back a bid to bring The Baton of Hope to Derby – and help raise awareness of suicide and begin conversations to help prevent it.

Suicide is the biggest killer and men and women under 35 in the UK – and The Baton of Hope UK charity aims to help the UK move towards a zero-suicide society.

It is seeking to change the conversation around suicide, smash the stigma, highlight existing support and leave a lasting legacy of practical improvements in the field of suicide prevention.

Last year, The Baton of Hope toured the UK visiting 12 cities, but it never came to Derby.  Now, Marketing Derby Bondholders are being urged to get behind a bid to bring the The Baton of Hope to the city in 2025.

Marketing Derby itself has given its backing, along with fellow Bondholders Derby County Community Trust, Sporting Communities, Calm in a Box, HUUB, Loates Consulting and Treetops Hospice.

Dean Jackson, founder of HUUB, said: “We have to do something about the growing number of people affected by suicide. The Baton of Hope tour gives us the opportunity to come together and provide an opportunity to ask questions, learn ways in which we can help reduce the number of suicides and support the people of Derby.”

Lindsey Hatfield, commercial development manager at Marketing Derby, said: “Marketing Derby is very happy to support this bid. The Baton of Hope coming to Derby will help raise awareness and hopefully start some important conversations, which could ultimately help save lives.”

Helping to lead the bid to bring The Baton of Hope to Derby is Rebecca Shaw, who has been campaigning for more awareness ever since she lost her husband to suicide five years ago.

She said: “Over the last few years, hundreds of people have died by suicide in Derby and the surrounding county including my husband Dalton – with 21% of people also having  suicidal thoughts – this needs to stop.

“17 people die by suicide every day in the UK. Suicide is a bigger killer than cancer for men under 50 and women under 35.

“Most suicides are preventable right up until the last moment. 17 million working days are also lost each year through mental health related illness.

“We need more support, and we are hope Marketing Derby Bondholders will join this call to action and put Derby on the map as a city determined to make a difference.”

The Baton of Hope visit will involve baton bearers, people directly affected by suicide, carrying the baton in memory of people they have lost or to celebrate the fact that they themselves are still on this earth.

The tour will take in key venues throughout the city, with events targeting areas such as sport for better mental health, male suicide, young people, arts therapy, music and more.

To support the bid e-mail batonofhopederby@gmail.com.

To find out more about the Baton of Hope visit https://batonofhopeuk.org/ .