Sarah Mitas' 100km Walk for Suicide Prevention

This past weekend (7th of September) marked the return of 'Let's Get Talking About Suicide' for its second year. Leading up to this occasion, organiser and MAKE manager Sarah Mitas undertook the impressive challenge of walking 100km in just 30 days to raise awareness and funds for the event. 

Sarah grew up in the countryside and recalls long, sun-filled walks, snowball fights, and boat trips down the canal with her father as a child. "I was always a daddy's girl and jumped at any opportunity to spend time with him, whether that was getting up early to see him off to work or sneaking to the pub with him, whether he liked it or not!"

But at 13 years old, Sarah's world was turned upside down. "I was picked up from school at lunchtime and told the tragic news that my father had taken his own life. My world as I had known it ended in that conversation. In the months to come, we moved away from Odiham to Portsmouth. My dad became a memory, and not one that was talked about. I was surrounded by people who had never known his kind, gentle nature, and the man I missed."

Sarah wanted to ensure that nobody felt that alone again. And so, the seeds for the 'Let's Get Talking About Suicide' event were planted. Still, it wasn't until last year that, with the support of Aldingbourne Trust, the event finally became a reality.

Preparations went a little differently this year as Sarah took on a mighty challenge: walking 100km in 30 days during the Euros. 

"The walk was brilliant and something I'll carry on," Sarah explains. "It improved my mood and gave me time to free my mind to cope with my own daily challenges. Time was an issue though - days fill up, and trying to walk 100km in 30 days is a challenge after all!"

Even when her husband Mat faced setbacks, Sarah stayed committed. "He got blisters, so we had to make up a bit of time for his feet to recover."

When asked how Mat reacted to the challenge, Sarah laughs: "He laughed and said, 'Let's do this!' Mat is the most supportive person and knows how much suicide prevention means to me. I've suffered my own mental ill health throughout the years, and he recognises the signs. He's a guiding light in some of the darkest places my mind has visited."

The event itself was a festival of life, offering free well-being activities like yoga, storytelling, fitness, and creative workshops. A moving addition this year was the launch of the "Speak Their Name" Quilt, dedicated to those lost to suicide, alongside a memorial tent where people could pay their respects.

Looking ahead, Sarah's hopes for the event are simple but powerful: "I'm hoping in the future the festival will become one of living life. In an ideal world, suicide will not be present. Lives matter, and people enjoying their time on this planet matter. A zero-suicide society is my mission. I want everyone to feel valued and loved, to know their worth, and to realise just how much they shine."

Sarah knows that everyone's experience with loss is different, but she shares her own thoughts for others who've lost loved ones to suicide: "I want people to realise there is no shame in losing someone to suicide. Their lives deserve to be celebrated - they lived, they loved, and they weren't just a statistic. My dad was not a number. He was a son, husband, brother, friend, and a beautiful human who didn't see his own worth."

"I'd like to thank my husband Mat for his constant support and for his constant learning in a subject he finds alien. My children, who talk about the granddad they never met, remind me daily what my worth to them is. Michelle McKinley Bell, Sue Livett, and the Trust for giving me the opportunity to support the community and to honour my dad's memory. And to my team and the services that attended last year for their support."

The 'Let's Get Talking About Suicide' event brought together a diverse range of people, activities, and stories, all focused on breaking the silence around mental health. We'll share more about the day in an upcoming blog, so stay tuned! For now, you can visit our website to find out more about the magic of MAKE: https://www.aldingbournetrust.org/make 


Written by Lizzie Senn. For any media inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]