This is a song and a story from the north east of England - specifically the city of Sunderland and even more specifically The Wearmouth Bridge. It was there in 2018 that an eighteen year old girl called Paige Hunter wrestled with the possibility of killing herself.
At the age of fourteen, she had been raped by a stranger and ever after she lived in mental torment. Standing on that bridge she was coaxed down by two men in a van. In effect they saved her life.
In the years that have followed, Paige has regularly returned to the bridge in order to tie tiny notes to the structure - notes that encourage potentially suicidal people to stop and think again.
A local band called The Young 'Uns picked up Paige's story and turned it into a song called "Tiny Notes". This video gives a taste of the song as well as an interview with Paige Hunter. I guess a lot of suicides could be thwarted by kindness - by people reaching out. Very often you don't need to die - there's a way forward for those who live with despair...
Nice. Has an algorithm starting feeding you such stories after you posting two days ago?
ReplyDeleteThis blog has now been taken over by A.I. and you will get what you are given Andrew.
DeletePaige Hunter comes across as someone who genuinely wants to help those who are where she's been before, not just another attention seeker on social media. Hats off to the two men who helped her choose life, not death.
ReplyDeleteThe Young 'Uns have turned it into a beautiful song.
In the interview, all three of them appear to be ordinary, decent people; the kind it takes for small steps with big results in individual lives.
I agree entirely.
DeleteHumanity is a strange beast, there is so many gentle things that makes you want to cry. Paige turned a wretched event into an inspiring story and touched the lives of others.
ReplyDeleteI hope she has found love in her adult life. She deserves happiness in spite of the abuse she suffered.
DeleteToo often those who need help don't realise it or don't know that help is available. Even as "we" watch them fall apart they insist everything is fine. Until it isn't and they only see one way out. I'm very glad this young girl listened to the men in the van.
ReplyDeleteSometimes life can hang by a thread.
DeleteThere is still a lot of kindness out there but sadly obscured by the selfishness of others.
ReplyDeleteMore kindness than we could ever estimate.
DeleteWhat a caring and very brave girl.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that more than thirty people have turned away from suicide on that bridge owing to Paige's notes.
DeleteTouching, there are a lot of good people in the world.
ReplyDeleteBrave girl. You never know what's going on in someone's mind. We all need someone to talk to.
ReplyDeleteLike the story of Bon Jovi, it reminds us that there are good people out there and maybe they deserve more of our attention that those "others".
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she is forging ahead.
ReplyDeleteWhat a story. And how touching that it has turned into a song and hopefully a message that will help keep others alive.
ReplyDeleteKindness and caring can cause hopefulness and can mean the whole world to a person at a certain time. Literally!
ReplyDeleteWords are indeed, powerful. Beautiful, and important story. Thank you for amplifying it.
ReplyDeleteI think that kindness can indeed help a person see that dying by suicide is not the only answer but somehow, it has to be there just at the right moment for it to work. It's a tricky thing. I think one of the answers to this problem is to be as kind to everyone we come in contact that we possibly can. I did not do very well with that today.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there are nice people in our world.
ReplyDelete