This September, I will be one of 56 people selected to carry the Baton of Hope through Cumbria – a symbol of unity, strength and above all, a national movement to prevent suicide and spark vital conversations about mental health. It’s an incredible honour, but for me, this moment carries a deeply personal weight. I carry the baton not just as part of a campaign, but in memory of my brother - gone too soon and will be forever missed.

I’m walking in memory of my brother, Gav Hope.

Even now, writing his name in this context feels surreal, Even now, I live in disbelief. Some days, I still expect him to walk through the door and tell us it was all just a bad joke — if only.

There’s something deeply powerful about carrying a baton called Hope, when that is our family name. The connection feels deep and almost that he’ll be walking right beside me.

Losing Gav shattered our world. The grief doesn’t fade - it reshapes you and you have to learn to live with the pain. What stays with me, stronger than anything, is the desire to make sure others feel seen, heard, and supported. Gav wasn’t just a brother, he was a friend – he was intelligent, charming, witty and he had the most amazing smile – a smile that let him get away with just about anything! But like so many, he fought the silent battles, the battles that no-one talks about and that is quite simply something I will never come to terms with.

My brother’s story isn’t just one of loss. It’s also a reminder of how crucial it is to truly listen, to ask twice, to check in on our loved ones and mean it. His absence has left a space in my life that will never be filled but carrying this baton allows me to walk with purpose, in his memory and for others like him who may still be silently struggling.

The Baton of Hope event is a nationwide movement to spark change. In Cumbria, 88 of us will walk, carrying this baton through towns and communities, each with our own story, each with a message: you are not alone. It’s about removing the stigma. Opening doors to real conversations. And making sure no one has to suffer in silence. I hope it becomes a spark. A spark for action. For connection. For change.

On the day I carry the baton, I won’t walk alone. I’ll be accompanied by the memories, and those people close to me . I’ll also walk alongside others who carry their own stories - some like mine, some different but all bound together by hope.

The Baton of Hope event isn’t just about raising awareness. It’s about changing the conversation. Removing the stigma. Making sure that support isn’t just a buzzword, but something real. It’s about saying this matters—to me, to you, to all of us.

To anyone who has lost someone, who is struggling, or who feels alone - you are not forgotten. You are not invisible. There is hope.

This September, I walk for Gav Hope - with hope ✨

#BatonOfHopeUK #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthAwareness #HopeInCumbria

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