In Sam's name Banner Featured at Hillsborough & Baton of Hope

On Saturday 21st January 2023, South Yorkshire football club Sheffield Wednesday shared a very touching message during a home league match against Fleetwood Town. It was in memory of Wednesday supporter Sam Fisher, while supporting the mental health group In Sam's name (pictured below) which was formed after the passing of Sam.

This was a touching tribute during the Fleetwood match as Sam's mum and dad Gill & Stewart was in attendance, as they was in one of the boxes in the South stand with their nephew and Sam's cousin Dan.

The club, weeks after the passing of Sam in October 2021 did a minutes applause in honour of his memory during the following home fixture against Lincoln City , which was set up at the time by several friends who arranged it after contacting the club. This is positive news in terms of sport clubs like the Owls supporting and promoting help for mental health.

Sam went to a lot of the games home and away and enjoyed the social side of the day, like going to a new place (if your away from home) with your mates to watch the team you cherish, are days you will never forget. The mixture of sport, travelling and socialising were at the top of the list for Sam, therefore these days were the one's he looked forward to.

Going to Football has the feel of one big community of people that is divided into separate ones. For example some people go to the games with their mates and will most likely have a drink or two which can lead to staying out late. Some prefer to go with their families which is more focused on the children's experience than the adults. Some fans like both experiences and will balance the two, the sense of togetherness at a club is the most precious quality in any sports club. The fantastic gestures that Sheffield Wednesday has shown to the memory of Sam and the group, shows the support and closeness at the Yorkshire club.

What has the club and the group done together to help in the fight against mental health ?

Since the formation of the group at the back end of 2021, we have several interactions with Sheffield Wednesday. Prior to the formation of the group and months after the tragic loss of Sam, it was a fantastic touch from the club to have a minutes applause in honour of former Owls fan Sam Fisher.

The club has held a mental health talk in 2022, which was inside one of the rooms behind the South stand. Founder of In Sam's Name Richard McHugh went along to talk about mental health, and the role In Sam's Name plays as well as the impact it has had around the Bassetlaw area.

Talks like this at football clubs are key to helping attract eyeballs to the worldwide issue, as sports clubs generate a wide range of people from all different backgrounds. This is important as mental health affects all of us in someway shape or form. The talk also exposed the help that is available if they need it, it could also help someone in sat at the talk or they might know someone that needs help and these talks point that individual towards the help they require.

We at in Sam's name are grateful for the continued support of the group with flashes at home games of the groups logo on the scoreboard, in front 20,000 plus fans every week is a great advert for the group and the continued fight against mental health.

What other mental health events has the club backed ?

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Will Vaulks is taking part in the Baton of Hope UK, which is predicated to be the biggest event to raise awareness in the UK. The event was set up by two fathers who lost their sons to mental health.

It's a credit to Vaulks to take part in the event, who has suffered loses in his family to mental health. The reactions to tragic circumstances like this from loved ones can have a massive affect on how we deal with this uphill problem of suicide deaths. Vaulks has become part of the fabric at Hillsborough, fans look up to him which could help someone who is struggling or get inspiration from him carrying the baton (In the picture above) to go and help with the mental health crisis.

A sobering and powerful note was left by one of the victims who mentioned that there needs to be more mental health support out there. Motivated from a personal lost and to try and help prevent tragic cases like this happening as common as they are today, they haver managed to pull politicians, government departments , the NHS, schools, charities have all helped support this great cause that could change the direction in the fight against mental health.

What is the baton of Hope UK ? The idea of these events was inspired from the famous Olympic torch run, which is a tradition for the host nation to have the torch being passed on as it travels through that nation to the designated spot which is the Olympic stadium that the event will be hosted at. Well the baton of Hope is a steel baton and the company that manufactured the baton is the same company that produced the FA Cup trophy.

The event starts in Glasgow on Sunday 25th June 2023 and ends in London 6th July 2023. The baton will pass through Sheffield on Wednesday 28th June which Owls midfielder Will Vaulks will take the reigns, and carry the baton. Will is taking part after losing family members to mental health and is a big promotor in the fight against mental health. The locations that are involved are: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Brighton before finishing in London.

The baton will travel the length and breath of the UK, in some of the UK's biggest cities. There will be a lot of attention from the media and the exposure in all these cities, which will hopefully have a positive ripple effect in terms of support within mental health, which is why the event was set up in the first place.

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