Daughter to be remembered in Baton of Hope tour

Ellen Scott with her dad Roger Cunliffe at Glastonbury Festival

The parents of a young woman who took her own life say they hope a national suicide prevention campaign will raise awareness of the support available.

Roger Cunliffe and Anna Scott lost their daughter Ellen in 2017, shortly after her 23rd birthday.

The couple are now helping to organise the Baton of Hope tour, which will arrive in Bradford later.

Mrs Scott said: "It's not just about raising money, it's about letting people know there is a community of people there to help."

Set up in 2022 by Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip, whose sons took their own lives, the Baton of Hope is the UK's biggest suicide prevention initiative.

Between 1 September and 10 October the baton will be carried through 20 locations across the UK, including Bradford, Leeds, Norwich, Portsmouth and London, with local people who have been affected by suicide organising each phase.

The Bradford leg will start at Top Withens, near Haworth, before passing through Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire and Lister Park before arriving in the city centre.

Among those supporting the event will be Lord Mayor of Bradford, Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe and Mr McCarthy.

Anna Scott (right) is organising the Bradford leg with her husband

Remembering her daughter, Mrs Scott said: "She was very bubbly. She loved music and was so creative. She was a walking picture of creativity.

"Her house was full of colour and her heart was full of love."

However, following Ellen's death, she said the family had felt "there was very little or no support" available.

She said: "We were not supported by anybody really and we didn't know where to go for support."

She said as a result the family became involved with raising awareness by starting Yorkshire Speak Their Name, which supports people who have suffered the loss of someone by suicide.

It encourages people to make a square to include in a quilt to remember loved ones who have taken their own lives.

Wednesday's leg in Leeds will see 84 people take turns to carry the baton along a 15 mile (24km) route stretching from Bramley to Gipton.

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