A mum from Saddleworth whose son took his own life has taken part in a procession to raise awareness of suicide in young people.

Jude Gidney’s son Andrew died four years ago aged just 20.

He was heading towards a first-class computing degree at Edge Hill University, when he began suffering with depression.

Andrew loved drawing, as well as computers, and was one of the authors of a paper on AI face recognition.

He was also an animal lover, and a fan of the outdoors and often walked on the hills of Saddleworth.

Following his death, The Andrew Gidney Foundation was set up in his name to support projects that benefit young people in Saddleworth.

The charity has described Andrew an “intelligent and caring young man” with a “huge heart” who was much loved by many friends and family.

On Thursday, June 29, Jude joined the Baton of Hope procession in Manchester and was chosen as a bearer and walked with the baton.

The Baton of Hope is a nationwide relay that is touring UK towns and cities this summer to raise awareness and spark conversation around suicide.

According to the Office for National Statistics, suicide is the biggest killer of men and women under 35 in the UK, with more than 6,500 suicides in 2021.

The Oldham Times: Left to right: Jude Gidney's sons Chris and Andrew Gidney Left to right: Jude Gidney's sons Chris and Andrew Gidney (Image: Jude Gidney)

Jude, who lives in Uppermill, said: “It was so sad seeing us all together, each bearer going through such pain and feeling the loss of their loved one.

“There were so many brave people putting themselves out there and being counted. All of them wishing change had already happened and that they still had their relative or friend with them.

“I felt a lot of spirit around the procession of those we’d lost encouraging us.”

Jude joined more than 80 other bearers who had lost a son, daughter, parent, relative or friend to suicide starting from the Whitworth Gallery up to St Peter’s square.

Among the bearers were supporters of The Andrew Gidney Foundation, Mike Palmer, one of the "3 Dads Walking", whose daughter Beth Palmer took her own life as a teenager, and Rebecca Jackson, co-ordinator of the Manchester ‘Speak their name quilt’ and The Big Fandango Arts Centre in Bury.

For more information on The Andrew Gidney Foundation and to donate go to www.andrewgidneyfoundation.org