Jude & Ali stood up to suicide & remembered Andrew – Baton of Hope Tour, Tameside
Friday 12 September 2025 was a very memorable & moving day for my sister Jude & me. We arrived at The Anthony Seddon Centre in the centre of Ashton early in the morning & met up with a group of about 30 lovely people all of whom had a very important reason to be there – to remember someone they had lost in their lives to suicide and to walk with the Baton of Hope.
Over the day we walked about 8 miles through town & country, connecting with various groups on the way – NHS workers outside their place of work who clapped as we arrived, a group of schoolchildren who sang to us & remembered one of their classmates who they had recently lost and a team of teenagers who brought each of the baton bearers a kite and recited a message of hope to them when we reached the top of a hill with amazing views across the region.
Late morning we walked up to the Cross above Mossley where Anthony Seddon’s brother read out a beautiful poem in his memory. On the way down, we battled against driving rain & thick mud – we were resilient as ever! The morning was solemn, and everyone was very thoughtful about their loved ones.
We were joined at lunchtime by friends & family which raised the mood of the group a little and walked with us to the end of the walk at the Civic Hall in Stalybridge where we were greeted with poignant music and refreshments.
I feel very honoured to have joined my sister Jude, who carried the Baton of Hope for a short way on the walk in memory of her son Andrew who we lost just six years ago. I will remember this very special day, with a tear in my eye, but a warm heart for the many lovely people we met on the way, for a very long time to come. Thank you to the Baton of Hope and The Anthony Seddon Centre for making it happen in such a heartfelt & tender way.