PAPYRUS Cymru is holding a fundraising dinner at the end of the month.

The charity was founded 11 years ago by a group of UK parents who had lost their children to suicide and has since grown into a thriving national charity.

The dinner, on Friday, January 30, at the Savoy, Mold, aims to raise money for the charity’s successful helpline HOPELineUK, which provides practical advice to vulnerable young people to help them overcome their suicidal feelings, as well as to the people worried about them.

Chairwoman and founder member Anne Parry, of Mold, whose own son took his own life at the age of 21, said: “Our Wrexham-based phoneline is run by professionals who are used to working with suicidal young people and their families and it has helped hundreds of people over the last four years.

“Suicide is the main cause of death in young people in the UK. About 70 people under the age of 35 take their own lives every year in Wales.

“By joining Papyrus Cymru, local people can help us to try to prevent this happening to other families.”

In England and Wales, more than 140,000 people are admitted to accident and emergency departments each year because they have tried to kill themselves, the majority of cases being young males, and the rate of suicide is also higher in Wales than in England.

North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom will be guest speaker at the dinner.

Tickets cost £20 each and are available from The Bookshop, High Street Mold, TWLS, New Street, Mold, or from organiser Mike Laugharne on 01352 753418.

HOPELineUK 08000 68 41 41 is open every day and is free to call.