All you need to know about the Baton of Hope Tour

The baton connects people affected by suicide

A nationwide tour featuring people affected by suicide is passing through Northamptonshire on Saturday.

The Baton of Hope has been travelling across the UK since the beginning of the month to spark conversations about mental health and encourage people to seek support.

The baton will be carried by bereaved family members, friends and suicide survivors, all of whom want to challenge stigma and campaign for practical change.

It will be making its way through Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, and Northampton, with each leg including performances, speeches and support resources.

What is the Baton of Hope?

The baton passed through Norwich on Wednesday

The Baton of Hope UK is a charity dedicated to suicide prevention.

Its mission is to create change, give hope and save lives through campaigning, public education and lobbying.

It was founded in 2021 by four men – two of whom are fathers who have lost their sons to suicide.

One of the sons, Ross McCarthy, left a farewell letter imploring his father to fight for better mental health provision.

Ross, who had suffered with severe depression, died two weeks after being put on a six-month waiting list for NHS therapy.

The first Baton of Hope Tour was held in 2023, with this year's being the second.

It began in Blackpool on 1 September and will finish in London on 10 October.

Where is it going in Northamptonshire on Saturday?

Singer Billy Lockett will help bring the event to a close in Northampton

The Baton of Hope begins its journey at Corby Town FC at O8:00 BST.

After opening speeches, the walk will cover 1.9 miles (3km) to the Boating Lake Park cafe. This first leg will include support group Andy's Man Club and local football teams.

The baton will then arrive at Wicksteed Park in Kettering at about 09:45 for a 1.5-mile (2.4km) loop around the lake and park grounds.

It will finish near the pavilion and memorial area at about 11:00, where there will be a pause for reflection and remembrance, celebrating stories, memories, and young people through creative activities, the charity said.

Guests will include the Sea Cadets, Kettering mental health cafe Jonny's Happy Place, a spoken word artist and choir.

A team of cyclists known as Kelly's Heroes will then pedal the baton seven miles (11km) to Wellingborough Golf Club.

From there, it will be transported by car to the embankment, ready to begin a 35-minute journey by water, accompanied by Northamptonshire Search and Rescue.

Supported by Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS), the baton will travel alongside the River Nene, and finishes with a gathering at Chester House by 13:00.

The final leg begins at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton at 15:00, with representatives from all emergency services gathering in solidarity, the charity said.

The final walk passes through Abington Park and ends up at the County Cricket Ground, with performances by Northampton singer-songwriter Billy Locket and the Northampton Male Voice Choir, at 18:30.

Who is carrying the baton?

Nick Allen is one of the baton bearers in Northampton

All baton bearers are inspirational individuals from across Northamptonshire selected for their courage, compassion, and commitment to making a difference.

One of them, Nick Allen, who works at the university, told BBC Northampton he lost his grandmother to suicide in 1980.

"I was only four at the time, and we didn't talk about it as I was growing up," he said.

"It's really challenging to think about how much more open we could have been about suicide - and that's one of the reasons I'm taking part."

He said a number of friends and colleagues had since shared their own experiences of suicide with him.

"We want to build a zero-suicide society so people can be more open and seek support," he added.

Kelly's Heroes, which is leading the event in the county, said most baton bearers would carry it for about five minutes.

"Each person carries a powerful personal story or a passion for mental health advocacy, and together they represent the strength and hope within our communities," it added.

"As they walk with the baton, they shine a light on lived experience, recovery, and the belief that change is possible."

What is Kelly's Heroes?

Kelly Hewitt, a prison officer at HMP Bedford, pictured with her father, John

Wellingborough-based Kelly's Heroes is behind the event in Northamptonshire.

The charity was founded by the family of prison officer Kelly Hewitt, following her death from suicide in 2018.

Its fundraising started with epic rides, with Kelly's father John taking part in a 1,000-mile (1,609km) cycle from John O'Groats to Land's End in 2020.

Its work breaks down stigma, "creates conversations" and supports people bereaved by suicide, its chief executive Sherry Adams said.