STAFF from a Reading house-building firm have completed the latest leg of a journey to support suicide prevention.
Employees from the Thames Valley region of the Vistry Group have finished their part of the Vistry Voyage, which sees staff working together to carry a commemorative book more than 1,100 miles.
The challenge is raising awareness of the issue of suicide and support the charity Papyrus, bringing the book 1,163 miles from the north east of England to Cornwall using human-powered transport.
The Thames Valley leg of the challenge took consisted of a 62-mile journey from Marlborough to Windsor, with participants completing five different sections on foot or by cycling.
Vistry Thames Valley’s managing director, Trevor Wicks, cycled the first part of the route from Marlborough to Kintbury, with operations director Lance Else riding the next stage to Aldermaston.
Land manager James Davis cycled to the regional head office in Reading, from where a group of employees walked to Sunning Golf Club.
Senior land manager Fiona Harrison completed the last and longest section of the journey by cycling to Windsor Castle.
From there, the commemorative book was passed on to the London team.
Mr Wicks, said: “I’m immensely proud of my team for tackling this leg of the Vistry Voyage and for carrying the commemorative book on its journey across our region. I was especially pleased that we managed to complete the challenge ahead of schedule, with some excellent times posted by our cyclists.
“It was extremely heart-warming to see so many of our people keen to support the event. I’d like to thank everyone who took part, as well as those who volunteered to pick up and collect the cyclists.
“A special mention must also go to our design and planning manager Caroline Belmont who joined the walk despite being eight months pregnant.
“We’ve been supporting Papyrus in a number of ways this year, but this is the biggest event Vistry has organised in aid of the charity.”
He continued, explaining that: “The housebuilding industry has one of the highest suicide rates of all the professions, so this is a cause that is extremely close to our hearts.”
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, more than 1,400 construction workers took their own lives between 2011 and 2015.
The suicide rate for the industry is estimated to be more than three times the national average for men.
Members of staff taking part signed the book personally, and have been raising money for Papyrus throughout the challenge.
Papyrus is dedicated to the prevention of suicide, providing confidential support and advice to young people dealing with suicidal ideation and those concerned about them.
It provides advice and support through its helpline, HOPELINEUK.
