Baton of Hope set to carry suicide prevention message in Kent and Medway for first time
Mental Health Campaigner Ben West is speaking as part of the Kent leg of the tour
Famous landmarks, firefighters, footballers and Britain’s Got Talent over-40s dance sensation Midlife Movers are among those gearing up to welcome the world’s biggest suicide prevention campaign – the Baton of Hope Tour – when it makes its first visit to Kent and Medway.
The Baton of Hope is the UK's largest suicide prevention initiative, travelling around 20 locations across the country.
It started in Blackpool on 1 September and ends in Wrexham on 4 October, ahead of a finale in Westminster, London, on 10 October.
The baton will travel through Kent and Medway for the first time on 22 September.
More than 130 local residents will take it in turns to carry the Olympic-torch style baton through Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury and Thanet.
Mental health campaigner, Ben West, who held the baton last year, is speaking at the event in Canterbury.
In 2018, at just 17 years old, Ben unexpectedly lost his 15-year-old brother to suicide.
"Losing Sam was horrific and to be part of something that is going to hopefully stop what happened to Sam from happening to other people is deeply meaningful."
The loss of Sam propelled Ben to take positive action campaigning around mental health awareness and suicide prevention, particularly for young people.
From Cranbrook, Ben tells Greatest Hits Radio and Hits Radio losing his brother was "complete devastation".
"Everything you thought you knew about the world suddenly doesn't make sense and you have to really relearn everything."
"I spent a lot of time looking at what happened to Sam and I realized that there was a lot that happened that didn't need to happen.
"I realised that it was only small changes that were needed and there was no reason why I couldn't be the person that achieved those.
In the seven years since Sam's death, Ben has written a book to dispel mental health stigmas; petitioned to make mental health first aid a compulsory part of teacher training; and guided a number of organisations including the NHS on their approach to mental health.
Ben carried the Baton of Hope in 2024; as part of the 2025 tour he is delivering a speech at Augustine Hall, Canterbury at 16:30 on 22 September.
"Carrying the baton is a really emotional experience. I wasn't expecting it.
"You feel the weight of the baton, you feel the weight of what it stands for, and you feel the weight of responsibility because so many people are still suffering like my brother did.
Midlife Movers will be helping bring the Kent and Medway leg of the Baton of Hope Tour to a celebratory end at the ‘Evening of Hope’ at Margate’s Dreamland.
Ben West is encouraging as many people as possible to attend the Tour in Kent and Medway on 22 September.
Warm-up events on Sunday 21 September will also take place in Folkestone and Sheppey.
To find where you can see the baton in Kent and Medway and join in supporting events, see the latest route and events schedule listed below and on the 'about' tab at www.batonofhopekentandmedway.co.uk