Please take a few minutes to read why we are raising awareness of suicide and why we want to create a special place of remembrance and hope for the amazing Fleetwood community.

Sadly, six years ago my daughter Mia’s father Dean McIver, took his own life and I had to watch her and all of his family’s hearts break. He was only 41 and they were in so much emotional pain I thought there was nothing that I could do to help them.

Since then, I have also known many other Fleetwood people taking their lives and through my professional work with children I see every day the ongoing mental health difficulties they and their families experience.

It is just heart-breaking and I want to do something positive and give the town some hope and comfort by bringing the community together to support each other.

Last year, thanks to the generosity of the Fleetwood community we raised enough money for two 'hope benches' on the Promenade and Esplanade, and held our first Suicide Awareness Walk.

This year we want to create a new and unique place in Fleetwood where people can find hope and comfort and remember their loved ones. That may be a piece of wall art or a statue, or a garden, or a beacon ... the community will decide what they want to see and help make it happen.

A focal point for our fundraising will be the Fleetwood Suicide Awareness Walk 2022 on Monday 10th October (rearranged from Friday 9th September). We will meet at the Log Cabin opposite the Sea Cadets base on the Esplanade for 6.30pm, setting off soon after to arrive at Marine Hall for sunset and an illuminated ceremony with live music in the gardens. Please bring along a flameless tea light, torch or lantern for the walk and ceremony and if you would like to, a photo of a loved one you are remembering. All welcome and we'd love to see you.

I would like to thank Wyre Council, Fleetwood Wellbeing Way, Healthier Fleetwood, S.P.A. (Suicide Prevention Advice), Fleetwood Town Community Trust, Fleetwood Primary Care Network, Fleetwood Beach Kiosk, Hesketh Press and a number of other community partners for their support.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you can, for your kind donation - it will make a difference.

Liz. X