Albion’s Solly March has spoken about losing his best friend’s brother to suicide as they support a suicide prevention initiative.
Solly and best mate Harry Clarke spoke in support of the Baton of Hope after losing Harry’s brother, Adam, who died 12 years ago.
The pair have carried a baton in Brighton to raise awareness of suicide prevention and reduce stigma around men’s mental health.
Midfielder Solly said: “Adam was a happy, outgoing guy and we had lots of laughs with him and had lots of good times and then bang.
“He probably was like a brother to me at the time. I remember being there and Harry answered the phone and that will stay with me forever.
“No brother and no family should have to go through that. It’s about trying to reduce that and help anyone that we can. If we can help one person I guess we’ve done our job.”
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Solly and Harry carried the baton through Brighton’s North Laine area yesterday at the end of a day-long relay which visited the Peace Statue on Hove seafront, The Bevy community pub and multiple other landmarks.
The Albion midfielder shared he has a tattoo on his right arm in tribute to Adam.
Harry, Adam’s brother and Solly’s best friend, added: “Having people like Solly as my best friend and his entire family around us, it was so important to be surrounded by those people.
“It’s been a very difficult time throughout those 12 years. At a time when we don’t speak enough about mental health, especially as men, the best way to honour Adam is to really drive this message forward.
“Sometimes you really need to reach in and give them a chance to open up.”
The Baton of Hope is the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiative with a national relay which visited cities including Newcastle and Manchester.
The Baton will be presented to Downing Street in London later today.
In the pre-recorded video played at the Evening of Hope event at Brighton Dome yesterday, celebrities including Albion’s Danny Welbeck, Fatboy Slim and Jamie Redknapp backing the scheme.
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