A Harrogate man is set to take part in the Baton of Hope Tour ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow (Wednesday).
Steve Phillip will take part in the event in Leeds tomorrow, carrying the baton for 250 metres.
Steve lost his son Jordan to suicide at the age of just 34 in 2019.
He founded The Jordan Legacy eight months later to support families affected by similar tragedies.
He told Your Harrogate:
“Jordan had had mental health issues, he was diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression for the last four to five years of his life.
“None of us ever saw what happened that day coming and, as a result of that, we established the Jordan Legacy just 8 months later to look at how we can work with others collaboratively to prevent suicides.
“It’s been quite amazing the presence we’ve developed online, the following we have and the support and kindness we receive is huge.”
The Baton of Hope, the UK’s largest suicide prevention initiative, arrives in Bradford today (Tuesday) with drop-in events at The Beacon in Lister Park, featuring performances and creative activities for those affected by grief.
In Leeds, the Baton will travel a 24-kilometre route across the city, including stops at City Square, Millennium Square and St James’s Hospital.
The Leeds leg of the tour will see the baton passed at the “Inspire to Inspire" exhibition, celebrating the works of late Artist and Fashion Designer, Joshua Van Leader, who took his own life.
Steve said:
“There are about 1,500 people nationally carrying this Baton who have been impacted in one way or another by suicide.
“The tour is huge. It’s really all about raising awareness about suicide and opening up that conversation.
“We lose 7,000 men, women and children every single year to suicide.
“It is of massive scale and does seem to be brushed under the carpet and not discussed at the highest levels in this country.”
The tour will visit 20 locations across the UK and is organised by Baton of Hope UK.
Find out more about the Baton of Hope tour online here.
LISTEN: Steve Phillip joined Your Harrogate’s Pete Egerton to talk about the Baton of Hope and the Jordan Legacy:
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