HopeWalk

The Hope Walk Suicide Prevention Movement is a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of the issues surrounding suicide. We are a small group of individuals who are passionate about spreading awareness and prevention of suicide. We would like to also use this opportunity to remember our loved ones gone too soon by suicide.

This is the first Hope Walk organised in Whakatane. This is a free event open to everyone. We will gather at the Mataatua Historic Reserve (Muriwai Drive) and walk as a group along the Warren Cole Walkway to the Whakatane Rose Gardens.

We encourage you to dress in yellow. Yellow is the colour of Hope. We will have resources available to you. Please bring your own water, snacks (if needed) and if you would like, signs of Hope (this could be a photo/memory of a loved one, a message of hope etc).

We will have a Memory Ceremony at the Rose Gardens where we will plant a beautiful honey yellow Magnolia tree to remember those we have lost.

A suicidal person may not ask for help, but that doesn’t mean that help isn’t wanted. People who take their lives don’t want to die—they just want to stop hurting. Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs and taking them seriously. If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, you might be afraid to bring up the subject. But talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life.

Please register your interest so we can get an idea of how many resources we will need. And don't forget to share this event with your friends and whanau. this is a free event.

Hope Walk Yellow T-shirts, hats and car decals are available to order from our Facebook page with all proceeds from the sales and event being donated to the gumboot Friday/A Key to Life Charity to help fund free private counselling for kids and rangatahi.

Please join us, we would love to see you!

We are not the solution, but we can create safe environments where together we can make a change, together we can become the solution.

Alternative date if weather causes postponement is Saturday 9th of November 2019 at 10.30am.