The Baton of Hope 2025 is a UK wide tour to raise awareness around suicide through a 20 day tour.

Starting in Blackpool on September 1 the tour head to Newry on September 3, West Lothian on September 5 and Cumbria on September 7.

Its final stop is in London on October 10 where it will have visited Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales along with areas on England.

The Baton of Hope was started by Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip after both losing their sons to suicide, they first talked on social media before meeting up in person.

The pair met the then Health Secretary Sajid Javid MP in June 2022 and the Baton of Hope took place in 2023.

Now back for its second outing the Baton of Hope is coming to Cumbria with Cleator Moor, Whitehaven, Penrith and Carlisle hosting the Baton.

Cumbria has one of the highest rates of suicide with Cumberland recording the second highest rate according to the Office for National Statistics.

Lisa Birdsall, who was successful in her bid to get the baton to Cumbria said: “After becoming a Baton Bearer as part of the first tour in 2023, I knew that Cumbria needed to be included, especially now given the suicide rates we have across the county.

“It is a powerful movement for change.

“Suicide has unfortunately affected mine and my families lives in many ways.

“I lost my brother Stephen to suicide in 2015, he was 34 years old, I have also lost a number of friends to suicide over the last 15 years, as have many people across Cumbria.

“I am also a survivor of suicide, I understand, from many different angles, how devastating suicide can be. A loss to suicide doesn’t just affect one individual, or even one family, it devastates whole communities.

“I’m passionate about making a difference to change the landscape and opinions around mental health and suicide and I welcome anybody who would like to join in this very important fight.”

Starting at Sellafield Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor on Sunday, September 7, the Cumbria leg of the tour will start at 7:30am with an opening speech by Lisa Birdsall, Paul Shearsby and Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister.

From there it heads to Westlakes Science Park for 8:45am where the Goodlives Project will be holding an open day and officially open the Baton of Hope Goodlives Garden.

At 9:15 it heads to Hope Haven in Whitehaven for 10:50am before going to The Hub and Beacon museum for 11:25am where there will be a speech from Every Life Matters on Suicide safer schools.

There will also be live music From Adam Amor and Charlie Finley with a performance from Dance Ranch.

R Street Food and Candy Cabs will be attending along with the Family Hub Bus and a Family Hub Activities Support Village.

It will then leave at 12:30pm to head to Bassenwaite Lake Sailing Club where there will be a live cooking demonstration by The Fell Foodie, sail boat racing and live music by Ged Hagan.

This is a free ticketed event which you can get here.

From Bassenwaite Lake it will head to Penrith where it will stop at the Hospital and Leisure Centre before taking a tour of the town.

Arriving at Penrith Leisure Centre at 2:05pm (14:05) where there will be a speech along with sports taster sessions and a quite creative space.

It will then set off for Carlisle at 2:35pm (14:35).

Arriving at Brunton Park the home of Carlisle United at 3:35pm (15:35)the event there will have a Mental Health Football Tournament along with Facepainting, Baton making crafts, a Pitch Parade and a chance to meet Olga United’ mascot.

It will then head to Harraby Community Centre where there will be a performance of Songs of Hope by a youth theatre group, a Blanket of Hope and create memory leaves.

The Baton will then travel to Carlisle East Fire Station where Andy’s Man Club and Gina’s Women’s Club along with Cumbria Health Information are holding an event before heading to the Cumberland Infirmary.

From there it will head to its final stop at Carlisle Castle at 7:40pm (19:40) where co-founder Mike McCarthy will give a speech.

The final stop is a free ticketed event with tickets available here.

There will be live performances from Rocket Theatre, Tik Tok star Chronically Emma along with live music from The Anthems and Claudia Paige.

Smash Shack and Waffling On will be providing food while there will be a Tree of Hope and live arts display.

If you are struggling, Samaritans are available to listen, day or night, 365 days a year.

Call free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org