Thank you for taking the time to look at my page.

 

Every suicide on the railway is a tragedy and and Wealdstone station has been particularly badly affected by suicides in the last two years.

 

Network Rail and Samaritans have launched a joint initiative to reduce suicides nationally on the railway and I have worked with my Network Rail, Harrow Samaritan and London Underground colleagues to start a Samaritan Awareness campaign at the station.

Network Rail has also installed a freephone at the site which is a direct dial to Harrow Samaritans.  This phone was purchased and installed by Network Rail, but the ongoing maintenance and call costs fall to Harrow Samaritans.

 

This phone may prove to be the final 'hand of support' or lifeline for people who have gone to and Wealdstone station to take their lives.  If they decide to use that phone to speak to a Samaritan, it could prove to be the difference between life and death and untold amounts of distress and despair to witnesses, train drivers and staff who have to work to reopen the railway after a suicide.

 

Samaritans is very important to me.  I have worked for them at for three years now and I truly believe in the service they provide to people in despair and to those with other burdens.

 

For every call that the Harrow phone makes to Samaritans, the cost to the Samaritans branch will be around twenty pence.  Sponsoring me £2 for running the  would pay for 10 of these calls to be made from the phone.  Network Rail is supporting my efforts to run on 25th April 2010 - the day before my 30th birthday!

 

If you choose to sponsor me, the amount you do will not be shown - any donation, no matter how small would be gratefully received!

 

Many thanks for your time again

 

Mark