A lunchtime Hope Walk in aid of suicide prevention will take place in Preston for a second successive year with the University of Lancashire, Mary O’Gara Foundation, and charity Papyrus all passionate about making the October event a firm annual fixture in the city’s calendar.
The walk, which attracted 250 people in 2024, takes place on Thursday 9 October towards and around Avenham Park. It is free of charge and open to everyone, not just university staff and students.
Registration will be open from 11am in the University Square with stalls and information raising awareness of suicide prevention and mental health support, the walk starts at 12.15pm and is approximately two miles long, returning to the University
Paul and Sharon O’Gara set up the Mary O’Gara Foundation to honour the memory of their daughter who they sadly lost to suicide in 2020. Mary was working in the NHS and three months into a Degree Apprenticeship course at the University of Lancashire when she very sadly took her own life. To those around her, she was bright, popular, had a good circle of friends and a good job. But she struggled with depression. As the foundation strapline says: ‘Look beyond the smile’.
Paul and I are passionate about the Preston Hope Walk becoming a positive annual fixture in the calendar– Sharon O’Gara - mum of Mary who died aged 27
Nicola Duncan, Deputy Director of Student Services at the University of Lancashire, said: “Suicide awareness raising and prevention is a leading priority for us. We’re not afraid to talk about suicide.
“Suicide is the main cause of death in young people under the age of 35 in the UK but no one is immune. At the University of Lancashire we have a dedicated team of highly trained and experienced practitioners in mental health and wellbeing support. They deliver one to one and group support online and in person taking both a proactive and reactive approach.”
To raise awareness of suicide prevention, the O’Gara family has been working closely with the University of Lancashire’s Student Support Team for almost three years. The strong bond began in 2023 when the O’Gara Foundation teamed up with the University and set out 200 empty chairs on University Square in Preston to raise awareness of the 200 schoolchildren who take their own lives every year in the UK alone and never get a chance to fulfil their potential and go to university. This was followed up in 2024 by the first ever Hope Walk in Preston, the largest Papyrus have on record.
Sharon O’Gara said: “Since Mary’s death we’ve made it our mission to raise awareness around mental health and the stigma attached to suicide. Support we’ve received from the University of Lancashire has helped immeasurably in terms of raising the profile of our charity and its aims.
At the University of Lancashire we have a dedicated team of highly trained and experienced practitioners in mental health and wellbeing support– Nicola Duncan, Deputy Director of Student Services
“Paul and I are passionate about the Preston Hope Walk becoming a positive annual fixture in the calendar. It touched our hearts that the majority of people who took part in last year’s inaugural event left with something positive from the experience. I walked with many different people of all ages and backgrounds who I’d never met before and had some poignant and personal conversations which I hope helped.
“Making time to connect with each other is vital and powerful. Just doing something simple like walking and chatting with a group of supportive friends can make such a difference and is the primary objective of our event.”
The University of Lancashire’s Mental Health Clinical Lead Julia Hunt added “Positive mental health and wellbeing is central to life on all our campuses. Looking after ourselves and each other is vital to a healthy and successful university experience and is championed by all our staff and students.
“I’m looking forward to joining the whole Preston community on another hope walk around the city and have my fingers crossed that we add numbers to the amazing 250 participants who took part in 2024. We would love anyone living or working in the city of Preston to join our university community on the Hope Walk.”
Walkers who complete the route will be rewarded with a goodie bag and refreshments when they return to the campus.
Event Details:
Date and Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, registration is open from 11am with the walk officially starting at 12:15pm BST
Location: University of Lancashire Student Centre, 43 Fylde Road, Preston, PR1 7DP
Duration: Approximately 1 hour