Loved ones will come together at an event in Bury to mark World Suicide Awareness Day.

Charities The Big Fandango and Bury Samaritans will join forces with the council to hold a memorial walk and vigil at 2pm on Sunday, September 10.

Fifty flags will be carried to represent the 50 people who have taken their lives over the last three years.

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It will begin in Kay Gardens and be led by drummers from the Bloco Ashe band and continue down Bolton Street to the gardens outside Caste Leisure Centre where a shrub will be planted close to the commemorative memorial stone that was donated by The Big Fandango at last year's vigil.

Suicide continues to be a big problem across Bury with approximately two lives being lost each month.

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It remains the biggest killer of middle-aged men but also of young people under the age of 25.

Rebecca Jackson who runs The Big Fandango opened the community Arts Centre in July 2021 following the death of her daughter.

She said: “It is a space where anyone can come along and learn crafts as a way of combatting loneliness and isolation and helping to reduce anxiety.

“On the last Thursday of each month the centre runs suicide prevention training courses from 6pm to 9pm and to date have trained over 400 people across Bury to recognise the signs, open a conversation and understand how to effectively sign post to appropriate help.”

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This year The Big Fandango are asking local businesses and individuals to pledge three hours of their time to do the training which can be lifesaving.

As part of Bury’s Month of Hope events, the "Speak Their Name" quilt will be on display at Bury Art Gallery from September 8.

The quilt was a community arts project produced by those bereaved by suicide across Greater Manchester, each square tells the story of someone loved and lost to suicide.

It was commissioned by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care partnership and Rebecca was the creative lead on the project.

If you wish to be a flag bearer on September 10 or want more information on the suicide prevention training courses, please contact Rebecca Jackson at info@thebigfandango.com.

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