ON Sunday Tae Kwon-Do clubs from the South West branch of The Tae Kwon-Do association of Great Britain sent 120 students to take part in a travelling ‘sparathon’ to support PAPYRUS, a charity that specialises in giving support to young people likely to commit suicide.

The sparathon covered two routes. One started at Crancrook travelled through Exeter, Torbay, Newton Abbot and ended at the Woolwell Centre in Plymouth.The other started in Bude on the north coast and travelled south through Okehampton and Tavistock before meeting with the others at the Plymouth venue.

Guy Southard, instructor and one of the organisers of the event said: ’The choice for the final venue was significant as it is the place where one of our students started training in Tae Kwon-Do and gained his black belt. Sadly that young man took his own life earlier in the summer of 2017.

‘After starting to arrange this event, many people have talked to us about their own experiences with friends and relatives. We all felt so devastated but we are glad to be doing something to help.

‘Suicide is the largest killer of young men under the age of 35. Not fast cars. Not drugs. Suicide. ”

According to the charity suicide is the main cause of death in young people – male and female –

under the age of 35 in the UK.

* In 2015, 1,659 young people under the age of 35 took their own lives.

* Over three quarters of them were boys or young men.

* It is estimated by the World Health Organisation that for every suicide,

there can be as many as 20 suicide attempts.

* Most suicides have been planned beforehand.

* 75% of young suicides were unknown to mental health services.

* Research shows that with appropriate early intervention and support suicide by young people can be prevented.

Through their efforts, the sparring students have raised a total of £1,457, with £1,000 of this being match funded by HSBC so the final figure is expected to exceed £2,500.

Guy added: ’This money can be used to train members of the community in how to recognise a person at risks and how to help them. It can cover the cost of training someone in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) which is a two day course that prepares care givers to provide suicide first aid.

‘It will also help to keep telephone lines open and staffed to provide first contact support. There is no cure to suicide, only prevention.’

The organisers thank to Budehaven Community Leisure, Okehampton College, and The Woolwell Centre for donating their premises free of charge.