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Hundreds of people will see the sun rise on Sunday morning as they walk along Guernsey's east coast in a bid to start conversations around suicide awareness.
The 2023 Gower Walk of Hope for Guernsey Mind will start from Vale Castle at 04:00 on Sunday 2 July.
It's the third time the event has been held, with more than 600 people walking the route in to town in both 2021 and 2022.
The sunrise walk aims to 'raise awareness and conversations around mental health and suicide' with the funds raised through entrance fees, sponsorship and other donations helping Guernsey Mind offer training around suicide prevention.
The charity said that training has helped people within the Blue Light sector - and other industries - gain Suicide First Aid certificates as a key part of Mind's wider suicide prevention strategy.
Pictured: Maddy Diligent (centre) is Mind's Events and Fundraising lead.
Guernsey Mind’s Events and Fundraising Lead Maddy Diligent said the walkers will leave Vale Castle shortly before sunrise, and head along the Bridge, Bulwer Avenue and Les Basques into town, ending at the Bathing Pools.
They will walk into the rising sun, with refreshments at La Vallette.
Ms Diligent said that walk from darkness into light is one that Guernsey Mind wants to convey to the wider community to help people in suicide crisis see that they can move from a dark and often lonely place into the light of a network of support.
"We are incredibly grateful that Gower has agreed to sponsor this year’s Walk of Hope," she said. "With Gower's help and sponsorship, the event will hopefully attract more walkers and reach even more people. This support means we can continue with our community-based work surrounding suicide awareness and prevention through not only 1:1 therapeutic support but also with our suicide first aid certificate training.
"The Walk of Hope means different things to different people, but its common goal is to bring the community together to show that there is hope and with a team around you walking from that feeling of darkness into light is possible."
Scott Rowe, Director at Gower said "we were delighted to be approached by Guernsey Mind to help sponsor the Walk of Hope this year".
"As Maddy points out, the walk means different things to all those that take part, but the community comes together as one for such an even," he said.
"That 'Guernsey Together' theme is so important when it comes to helping raise awareness on the issues of suicide within our community. Gower are a big supporter of Guernsey Mind and everything they do so it is a real pleasure to support the Walk of Hope this year.”
Pictured: There is still time to register for the Walk of Hope via Eventbrite HERE or via Mind's website HERE.
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