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Guernsey Mind's Sunrise Walk of Hope - aimed at raising awareness of, and preventing suicide - is returning for a fourth year this month, with a locally written and performed anthem accompanying it.
Planned for the very early hours of 30 June, the event will see hundreds of people walk from Vale Castle to La Vallette, as the sun rises over St Peter Port.
It's a 5km route, on the coastal pavements and footpaths.
For the second year, Gower is "proud to sponsor this transformative event".
"We're deeply honored to support the Sunrise Walk again," says Hannah Boylin of Gower. "Seeing the community come together, sharing stories and supporting one another, is truly inspiring," said a spokesperson for the company.
The financial support given by Gower means all money raised through the event goes directly to Guernsey Mind to fund its services. Those services include Mental Health First Aid training and specific courses around suicide awareness and prevention.
The charity's work around suicide awareness and prevention, and the Gower Sunrise Walk of Hope in particular, have won national recognition. The event was featured at the national Mind Excellence Awards earlier this year, when Guernsey Mind received a highly commended award for promoting positive attitudes to mental health within the local community.
"The walk is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community," said Guernsey Mind Chief Executive Jo Cottell.
"Many participants walk in memory of loved ones, wearing their names on the back of their shirts. The atmosphere is one of compassion, solidarity and support, reminding us that no one has to walk alone in their journey. The event gets more and more popular every year, and we are hoping for even more walkers this year.”
This year, the Sunrise Walk is also being supported by the power of music, with a song written by local songwriter Tim Osborne being used as an anthem for the walk.
Mr Osborne has penned 'Darkness into Day' - described by Mind as "a poignant power ballad capturing the struggle of seeking help and support when it is needed the mos"t.
"The lyrics reflect the journey from the depths of mental health struggles and the support that is needed to help along the journey," Mr Osborne said.
The song has been performed by ROMA, a young singer from Guernsey (real name Georgia Pollock), with Mikey Ferbrache of Apocalypse recording studios, producing the song and playing guitar on the track.
"I'm thrilled to be part of this project," he said. "The message of hope and the vital work of Guernsey Mind is something we should all support."
Pictured top: Taken during last year’s walk (Ross Yeates).
Sunrise walk to mark the launch of Suicide First Aid
"He was a very kind and honest man"
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