6. 90-second Statements

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 21 September 2022.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 3:22, 21 September 2022

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful for the opportunity to raise the fantastic work being done by Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen—better known as the 3 Dads Walking. The three fathers who each tragically lost their daughters due to taking their own lives are currently taking on their second challenge, which is a 500-mile trek to highlight suicide prevention and to raise money for the prevention charity, Papyrus. The 3 Dads Walking started their challenge at St Andrews House in Edinburgh on Saturday, 10 September, which was World Suicide Prevention Day, and they're arriving here at the Senedd on the evening of 1 October.

Suicide is the biggest killer, sadly, of people under the age of 35 in the UK, and every year, more than 200 schoolchildren sadly take their own lives. The 3 Dads Walking believe that, by raising awareness, we can all raise together the issues and prevent other families from being devastated in the same way. The dads are walking through each of the nations—Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England—in memory of their daughters, Beth, Sophie and Emily, and they're close to raising an outstanding £1 million for the Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide charity. I wanted to raise this in the Senedd this afternoon as it's an important issue to highlight, and I wanted to highlight the amazing work of the three dads. Diolch. Thank you.