Northern Ireland

Hundreds of pupils to raise funds in suicide prevention awareness relay

Belfast marathon winner Laura Graham will take part as a sporting ambassador for her former school St Louis in Kilkeel
Belfast marathon winner Laura Graham will take part as a sporting ambassador for her former school St Louis in Kilkeel Belfast marathon winner Laura Graham will take part as a sporting ambassador for her former school St Louis in Kilkeel

HUNDREDS of school pupils will run the roads of Newry and Mourne to raise money and awareness for a suicide prevention charity.

The Together Not Alone Suicide Prevention Awareness School Relay Run, organised by PIPS Newry and Mourne, will involve 13 post-primary schools.

As well as about 350 young runners, there will be 13 `sporting ambassadors' who will join the schools to reinforce the message that exercise is a clear path to positive mental health outcomes.

They include Belfast marathon winner Laura Graham, Armagh gaelic footballer Aaron Kernan and mountaineer and adventurer Terence `Banjo' Bannon.

The charity said it joined with regional group Volunteer Now to create a positive approach in promoting a message that suicide is preventable.

The event will promote to all young people that participation, communication and social action can bring about real change in their schools, communities and wider society.

The relay will begin at St Paul's in Bessbrook on June 21 and finish at Newry Town Hall at about 1pm.

Eamon Murphy of PIPS Newry and Mourne said the idea was to create a platform for young people and teachers to raise the subject of suicide in a way that was practical and resourceful for the schools.

"We're opening the door as a means of conversation to develop in the school," he said.

"It is so very encouraging, considering that it's the time of year when schools have exams, that schools have shown great enthusiasm about this and are delighted to take part. We know it is difficult to broach the subject of suicide and/or self-harm, yet we want to encourage our young people to seek help when they need it.

"This is why we are combining physical health with mental health and active participation with both adults and young people in a fun and positive activity."