On Thursday the Baton of Hope will make its journey through Hereford, carried by 64 baton bearers all with a personal connection to suicide and, or mental health. Please come along and support the baton bearers on the day if you can!

The day will officially start at Hereford Livestock Market where the café will be open from 7.30am and the We are Farming Minds team will be on site. The Mayor of Hereford Cllr Daniel Powell will officially start the event and the Hereford Fanfare Trumpets will announce the baton’s arrival into Hereford. At approximately 8.30am the baton will join a Tractor run to the Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College. The walking leg of the relay will then begin at the college, at approximately 9.30am.

The next stop on the baton’s route at approximately 10am will be at Herefordshire MIND on Widemarsh Street, where several organisations will be offering activities and support.

At around 11am the baton will then make a short stop at The Courtyard where there will be a performance from Starlight Silver Swans, artwork on display and Hereford Men’s Mental Health will be onsite offering information and support.

At around 11.15am the baton will then head over to Hereford Football Club for a lap of the pitch’s perimeter.

The baton will continue its journey through the city stopping at approximately 12.30pm at Halo Leisure Pool where there will be an Orange Button Cake Sale (in aid of Andy’s Man Club), Halo Goody Giveaway and Orange Button/Mental Health Awareness Station. The baton will continue on to Hinton Community Centre where several organisations will be offering information, activities and support from approximately 1pm-2pm.

There will be a pause of the relay over lunch time and the baton will pick up its journey at Hereford Cathedral at 3pm where there will be a performance from the Sing out Strong Choir and a welcome from Reverend Canon James Pacey. The baton will then make its final leg of the journey through High Town, where the Got 2 Sing choir will be performing, and on to the Town Hall steps where the event will finish at approximately 3.45pm.

Throughout the day there will be information stands in Hightown, a quiet space at All Saints Church and Hereford Men’s Mental Health will be on the Zipper Bus available for anyone who would like a chat or some support. There will also be a selection of musical performances along the route. For a more detailed schedule please visit the Talk Community Directory.

Please note that filming and photography will be taking place throughout the day. The photographs and recording are likely to appear online and on social media. If you would prefer not to be photographed please let staff know.