I am hugely honoured to be selected to be a Baton Bearer on the Jersey leg of the Baton of Hope Tour 2025 on Sunday 28 September. . This cause is deeply personal to me as I am walking for my son Benjamin who chose to leave in June 2017 at the age of 33.

In the UK suicide is the biggest cause of death of men below the age of 50 and women of 35. More than heart disease, cancer and traffic accidents. Over 6,000 people die by suicide this year. Yet we don’t talk about it openly as we would other illnesses. It is time to make a change, move the narrative and start the conversation.

The Baton of Hope is the UK’s leading suicide prevention initiative, symbolizing solidarity and hope for those affected by suicide. While being a Baton Bearer I hope to reflect positively about Ben’s life, honour his memory, assuage my own guilt but most importantly, help break the stigma around suicide and mental health, and support others who may be struggling with the grief around suicide that only those who have experienced it can understand.

As the event approaches, I hope to share more details about how you can get involved, whether that’s by joining me on the day, donating, or simply helping to spread awareness. For now, please mark the date, hold this cause in your hearts and start to talk about suicide like you would any other illness. Together, we can turn grief into action to move toward a zero suicide society.

If you’d like to learn more about the Baton of Hope, visit [https://batonofhopeuk.org/]. Your support means the world to me, thank you

With love and hope,

Adam

For Benjamin