Time for Drogheda to sing its own ‘Fight Song’
AT A TIME when a reported 700 people die by suicide each year, the need for awareness and remembrance has never been greater.
And so, on Sunday September 10th at 3pm, a crowd will gather on the steps of St Peter’s Church on West Street and take 45 minutes to ponder on life, to recall, to heal, to look to the future, to call for help.
There are few people on this planet who , at some stage in their lives, have not needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to say it’s going to be ok, someone to believe in.
Last Thursday, in the Barbican, the St Peter’s Outreach Group launched their project ‘Never Forgotten’ to co-incide with World Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day.
On September 10th, a candle of hope will be lit on the steps, the St Peter’s Male Voice Choir will perform and the likes of SOSAD will be on hand. 700 pairs of shoes will also be placed on the steps in a symbolic gesture.
After reflection, those who want to, can head to the Barbican to meet up, talk, seek advice, or just listen.
The event is about many things, but paramount is awareness, tackling this stigma of mental health and all that it brings and telling those left behind that there is also help for them too on their journey.
The day will be one of strength and solidarity but perhaps, when those attending are departing, maybe someone will step forward, be it the St Peter’s Male Voice, Greenhills choir, or some of the majestic young singers we have in this town and deliver the lines from Rachel Platten’s classic ‘Fight Song’....
‘ This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me’.
September 10 is the chance for a town to stand together and bring the spirit of Drogheda to those that need it most. if nobody else