We're so proud to be chosen for Baton of Hope 2025 tour in Blackpool for suicide awareness

Two bereavement nurses in Blackpool have spoken of their pride at being selected to join the Baton of Hope suicide awareness tour in the resort.

- by Richard Hunt

The Baton of Hope is a charity which enables a symbolic baton to be carried through the streets of the UK as a unifying symbol of remembrance, hope and the need for urgent action over the tragic scale of suicides across the country.

As part of its UK tour, the baton will be passing through Blackpool on Monday and the resort's involvement is sadly apt, as it has the highest rate of deaths linked to suicide in England.

Bereavement nurses Claire Hickson and Vicki Lang work for the SWAN End of Life Bereavement Service, based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Some of the cases they have worked on have been linked to suicide, which put them in contact with the Solace Empowerment Charity, which is run by Blackpool woman Sam Southern.