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Tranmere Rovers in the Community will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday 10 September by displaying 135 football shirts in the Kop Stand for the fixture against Stockport County on Friday 9 September (7.45pm kick-off), to demonstrate the number of people estimated to lose their life by suicide during a 90-minute football game.
Statistics from the World Health Organization show that one person somewhere around the world dies an average of every 40 seconds from suicide, meaning around 135 people will tragically lose their life by suicide during a football game of 90 minutes.
We are appealing for supporters to bring their football shirts to the Club Shop at Prenton Park ahead of the fixture against Stockport County, and they will be displayed on 135 seats in the Kop Stand during the game to raise awareness of suicide prevention.
You can drop off your football shirts to support the cause any time from today until the day of the Stockport County game on Friday 9 September.
The Club Shop at Prenton Park is open from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday for you to drop off your shirts, as well as from 10am until 5.30pm on a Saturday matchday. The Club Shop is also open from 10am until 1pm on a Saturday non-match day.
The shirts will then be available from the Club Shop during the week after the match for you to come and collect.
Senior Community Manager, Matt Houghton, said, “Every day thousands of families and friends across the globe receive the devastating news that a loved one has taken their own life. We want to raise awareness of this issue and encourage anyone who’s struggling to reach out and get the help they need.
“To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, we’ll create a display of football shirts that represent the amount of people estimated to take their own lives in the time it takes for a football match to be played.
“If you have a football shirt, you’re happy for us to include in the display, please drop it off into the club shop and be part of our campaign.”
Mental health awareness is something that Tranmere Rovers In the Community is passionate about, along with services available to help improve mental health.
If you are interested in finding out more about these services and getting involved, please email community@tranmererovers.co.uk or call on 0151 608 2354.
Main image: Nelson Ndongala
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