Boxer Ricky Hatton and Manchester United legend Lou Macari have sent messages of support to three dads who are trekking across the UK in memory of their young daughters who took their own lives.
Mike Palmer, from Sale in Trafford, is currently taking part in a 600-mile trek alongside Andy Airey and Tim Owen. The trio have joined forces to raise awareness of young suicide, and are calling for suicide prevention to be included in the school curriculum.
Mike lost his beloved daughter Beth, 17, to suicide in March 2020. Tim's daughter, 19-year-old Emily, also took her own life in the same month of the same year.
And Andy lost his 29-year-old daughter Sophie to suicide in 2018. As the trio - who have named themselves the 3 Dads Walking - take part in their trek, stars have sent messages of support.
Manchester boxing legend Ricky Hatton said the men were 'very inspiring' and 'fantastic' in a video message. "Keep up the good work, keep spreading the word", the boxer added.
Former footballer Lou Macari - who also lost his son to suicide - said he hoped to catch up with the bereaved dads on their walk and wished them good luck. The men even received a message from Hollywood actor Daniel Craig.
The James Bond star described them as 'truly, truly heroic'. He has already donated £10,000 to Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, the North West-based charity which they support.
In the video, Mr Craig said: "Shout loudly, I know you’ll be heard. All my very best. Good luck."
Mike said they were overwhelmed after receiving the messages. "It was absolutely brilliant of Daniel Craig to do that", he said.
"It means so much to us to have made such an impression. It just shows that we are getting suicide talked about. That’s the whole point of why we are doing this."
Last year, the 3 Dads Walking - who have raised around £880,000 so far - trekked 300-miles to raise money and awareness for Papyrus. This year, they aim to double that by walking 600-miles between the parliaments of all four UK nations.
They started at Stormont in Northern Ireland on September 9, before heading through Scotland. They are currently walking through northern England to Wales before ending their challenge at Westminster on October 10.
Mike, who previously said he was left 'beyond devastated' after his daughter's death, said the men want young people to be equipped with life-skills to protect themselves. "We’re walking for a month and we’ll be talking for a month", he said.
"Talking about how we need to equip our young people with life-skills which they can carry through the rest of their lives to protect themselves and others."
Andy, from Morland near Penrith, said: "Around 200 schoolchildren are lost to suicide every year. That is both a tragedy and a national scandal which needs to be addressed.
"Our walk is to provide a focus for continuing the conversation with governments about embedding suicide prevention in the school curriculum. Young people want to know more about mental wellbeing and where to get help and schools have a vital role to play in saving young lives."
Tim, from Shouldham, said: "It’s going to be an epic. It’s obviously double the distance of our last walk, double the time and so hopefully we’ll meet double the people.
"Papyrus works across all four nations and so it makes sense to have a route across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England and the seats of power where people can unlock this and potentially save lives."
Ged Flynn, chief executive of Papyrus, said the 3 Dads Walking are already lifesavers. "Andy, Mike and Tim are helping to start conversations in homes where families were unwilling to discuss suicide", he said.
"It is remarkable that these proud fathers, who are each trying to deal with their own grief in their own way, have found a positive path forward together."
To follow the dads’ four-week walk and to find out how to join them when they arrive in a town near you, you can find their route here: https://www.3dadswalking.uk/the-2022-route. More information about 3 Dads Walking can be found on their website: https://www.3dadswalking.uk/.
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