00:00Hope will travel through Kent and Medway on September the 22nd, as the world's largest suicide prevention campaign has the county placed on its map.
00:08The Baton of Hope Tour is a growing movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society, through training, boosting conversation to eliminate stigma, shining a spotlight on support, and much more.
00:20The day is set to start here at Mid-Kent College, before more than 130 baton bearers carry it throughout the county.
00:28The torch will journey across the River Medway to Rochester Cathedral, then make its way onto Maidstone, where it will see a number of landmarks, such as Maidstone's United Gallagher Stadium, the County Hall and Mote Park.
00:42Then be in pass through Canterbury by baton bearers before making its final stop through Margate.
00:47The Baton's final county stop will be here at Dreamland, where there will be the Evening of Hope.
00:53There will be singers, dancers and poetry bringing the community together.
00:58The baton is the only known physical symbol of mental health, and is hoped to send a message to the whole of the UK.
01:05The message for me, and I think the charity would agree, is just that, you know, you're not alone.
01:10And I think, as well as honouring our loved ones that we've lost, suicide, but also just the people that are struggling, or have lived experience, you know, the survivors.
01:19It's just about saying that you're not alone, and just opening up those conversations, you know, talking about suicide, getting rid of that stigma and that taboo, that, you know, if you talk about it, it's this, you know, dirty word.
01:29And I just think by having something physical that people can see and touch and hold, it just brings to life those conversations.
01:37Each baton bearer, a part of the movement, carries it through the county with their own personal story.
01:43I want to carry that baton in the name of everyone that's not just lost to suicide, but people battling with those thoughts.
01:50There are so many people out there, especially that we work with in the charity, that they live with those thoughts day in, day out.
01:56And this, for me, is trying to carry that baton to say enough is enough.
01:59We need to stand up against suicide and prevent it.
02:02The nationwide baton tour is set to start in Blackpool on the 1st of September, visiting 20 locations before ending in Wrexham on the 4th of October.
02:13Daisy Page for KMTV
02:15If you have been affected by the issues raised in this report, the Samaritans can be reached on 116 123.
