Baton of Hope tours Greater Manchester to raise awareness for suicide prevention
The Baton reaches Manchester as part of of a national tour,as a physical symbol of hope for those affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts.
The Baton of Hope, which is the biggest suicide prevention initiative the UK has ever seen, will be touring Greater Manchester today.
The tour's aim is to highlight the suicide crisis in the UK which sees 17 people take their own lives every day.
The Baton is vising 12 cities across the UK starting in Glasgow and finishing up in London.
Locally, the Baton of Hope will be starting its trip today in Salford at 8:15am. The Agecroft Rowing Club and Mike Palmer from 3 Dads Walking will be collecting the Baton at Media City.
It is then expected to arrive at Old Trafford between 9am and 9:30am. Where it will be met by Premier League representatives.
It will then be collected by a team of runners who will transport it from the home of Manchester United across the city to The Etihad Stadium. Arriving around 10:30am.
From Manchester City's stadium the Baton will be travelling around the city visiting the National Cycling Centre.
It will then head up Oxford Road passing the Whitworth Art Gallery and The University of Manchester, finishing at St Peters Square at 3pm.
Mike McCarthy is the founder of the Baton of Hope charity, which was set up after the death of his son. He said, "He left a long farewell letter, and within that letter he said 'please fight for mental health, the support is just not there'".
"Once I got back on my feet it galvanised me into action".