Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Light of Life torch walk for those people lost to suicide
LOVED ones of people lost to suicide will gather in Perth at 4am tomorrow for a torchlit Light of Life walk to raise awareness of mental health.
Tracy Swan, whose daughter Jodie McNab took her own life at Murray Royal Hospital in 2013, has organised the walks since 2015 when it was previously called Darkness into Light.
The mum said the procession is in memory of all those lost to suicide while raising awareness of self-harm and the support networks now in place around the Fair City.
Tracy, who began the Lighthouse for Perth following her daughter’s death, hopes that hundreds of people will gather with them at the South Inch shortly before 4am tomorrow.
Previous years have gathered around 150 walkers but Tracy expects more to join their first event in two years after the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: “It’s a good thing for people to come along and they can speak to people who have been through the same thing as they have. Things have gotten worse over the last two years. There’s a lot of suicides in Perth that have gone under the radar. It’s a moment of reflection to everyone.”
A number of support groups, including the Lighthouse, Andy’s Man Club and Linda’s Ladies, have been set up in Perth and Kinross in recent years.
Tracy said: “I’m hoping this year will be a lot bigger because we have a lot of groups set up now. There’s so many different mental health services in Perth now so hopefully they will get out there.”
Tracy began the remembrance walks with families of other young people lost to suicide.
She said: “There was a group of us that have all lost kids to suicide but since then it has been growing.”
The walk changed its name to Light of Life to avoid confusion with the Darkness into Light walk which began in Dublin before becoming an international event.
Tracy has asked those taking part to bring a torch but she will have candles. The procession will leave the South Inch at 4am and make its way along Tay Street before sunrise.