Darkness into Night Walk

Darkness into Light Walk 10 September 2021

World Suicide Prevention Day

My name is Mark Feenan and I have received ongoing support from PSS over the past few years during my struggle with my mental health.

I took part in the Darkness into Light Walk organised by MoveMENt who are part of Let’s Get Warrington (and Beyond) Talking aimed at suicide prevention, specifically in men.

The walk started at Widnes Vikings DCBL Stadium at 2.30am and progressed along the Trans-Pennine Trail passing Spike Island and going under the new Mersey Gateway Bridge. We walked alongside the St Helens canal past Fiddlers Ferry, ending up 9.2 miles later at Warrington Wolves Halliwell Jones stadium at 6am as the sun was starting to rise. This resonated with all of the 200+ participants as it symbolised that, even in the darkest of places, there will always be light.

During the walk we wore Hi-vis jackets and carried torches while we shared our reasons for being there.

There were plenty of tears as well as laughter during the walk and at the finish there were speakers from TALKUB (a men’s support group in Merseyside), Onein3 (a NW based support group for men), a suicide survivor and a BBC documentary maker, Angela Samata.

At the end of her talk Angela asked us all to turn to the person on our right, shake hands with them and say ‘Thank You’ for being here and supporting the need to promote awareness of suicide and the people it affects.

The message we all took away from this event was hope, and the feeling that none of us are on our own: we only need to reach out and help is there.