A BUSINESS in Birchwood has completed a section of a mammoth mission for suicide awareness.

Vistry Partnerships is a housebuilding company, and it partnered with Warrington-based suicide awareness charity Papyrus for the event.

The event itself was a 1,000-mile trek across the country, without using any motorised transport.

Warrington Guardian: The team from Vistry carried the book for 50 miles of its journeyThe team from Vistry carried the book for 50 miles of its journey (Image: Newsquest)

Participants of the journey were transporting a commemorative book across the country.

The Birchwood-based business completed 50 miles of the journey, trekking from Hollingworth Lake, and finishing in Haslington.

Ian Hilliker, regional managing director of Vistry Partnerships, said: “Papyrus is a charity which is very close to all of our hearts, and we have been supporting the organisation in a number of ways throughout the year.

“The Vistry Voyage is one of the biggest charity events we have organised to date as a company, and we are proud that so many people from the business gave their spare time to play their part.

“People were running, cycling, walking and even kayaking and paddle-boarding. 

"The whole concept of the voyage is remarkable, and I want to send a big thank you out to everyone who was involved."

Warrington Guardian: The construction sector tragically has a higher-than-average rate of suicide among its workersThe construction sector tragically has a higher-than-average rate of suicide among its workers (Image: Newsquest)

Vistry was one of 23 businesses that took part in the awareness event, and it saw the commemorative book being transported from the north of England to Devon and Cornwall.

The mammoth journey took six weeks from start to finish, and some of those participants were sponsored along the way.

National statistics suggest that nearly 1,500 construction workers lost their lives to suicide between 2011 and 2015.

That means the suicide rate among construction workers is three times higher than the national average.

Ian added: "The issue of suicide is one that is important to all of us as a business particularly as it affects so many of the people who work in our industry.”

The event began on September 10, to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day.

If you have been affected by suicide, help is provided through the Samaritans' website which can be accessed here, or you can call for free on 116 123.

Papyrus is a suicide prevention charity based in Warrington, and help can be accessed from 9am until midnight every day by calling 0800 068 4141, or visiting its website.