Carrying Hope in Torbay: WHiYOU, baton of hope designs, THE Founder, and the Journey

WHiYOU
Sep 22, 2025
5 min read

The Baton of Hope Comes to Torbay

https://www.whiyou.com/torbay-baton-of-hope-yourstorymatters

On Tuesday, September 30th, the Baton of Hope, the UK’s largest suicide prevention initiative, arrives in Torbay. It is more than just a baton relay; it is a powerful message carried across cities, towns, and communities across the Nation. It symbolises connection, compassion, and a refusal to stay silent about suicide.

Among those carrying the Baton through Torbay is Ben, founder of WHiYOU. WHiYOU is not a typical clothing brand; it’s a mission-driven project built to raise awareness, spark connection, to feel good and give back. Through sustainable fashion, WHiYOU donates 10% of sales to causes that matter, while creating designs that tell stories too often left unspoken.

For Ben, this is not just an event on the calendar. It is deeply personal.

Ben, the founder, is wearing the WHiYOU Your Story Matters T-shirt

From Silence to Speaking Out

Ben’s journey to this moment has not been easy. He experiences debilitating complex anxieties and depression, caused by half a lifetime of substance misuse.

"It's all fun and games until the fun stops. Can long-term use have an effect? Oh yes, I realised that it can. It's usually a coping mechanism for something. I didn't quite realise what I was doing and why. The damage caught up with me in the end. If it took me 15 years to break my brain. I want to find out what another 15 years of healing and purposeful can achieve and what a whole new chapter in my story can bring me", Ben says.

WHiYOU is his anchor out of that life, and one that he wants to share with the many. He saw pain, suppression and harm in many corners of society. So he decided, what role can I play in helping others, and in turn helping himself? Like many who step into the space of depression and suicide prevention, his life has been marked by experiences that left scars.

“I’ve had moments where the weight of everything has felt too much,” Ben admits. “I used to turn those feelings inward and began battling myself rather than asking for help. I thought silence was strength, but all it did was make the struggle lonelier.”

Part of WHiYOU's continued growth is that Ben saw how sharing real, raw truths could open conversations. Yet, behind the scenes, the pressure of building a social impact brand, being vulnerable, and lacking major backing, can take its toll. Financial worries piled up. Mental health wavered. And when the Baton of Hope came into view, WHiYOU was given an opportunity to play a much larger role in supporting the initiative.

But reality intervened.

The founder is wearing a hoodie with the words "Hey you! I struggle too. If you are feeling down, I will listen"

When Capacity Meets Commitment

“I had to face the truth,” Ben reflects. “I simply didn’t have the capacity. Financially, mentally, emotionally, and I couldn’t do it all. At first, I felt like I was letting everyone down. But then I realised: stepping back isn’t failure. It’s honesty. It’s self-preservation. And survival matters.”

For Ben, this lesson was profound. In a world where people are often pushed to their limits, recognising when to step back is not weakness...it’s resilience. The decision to scale back his role was painful, but necessary.

And yet, despite the setbacks, Ben and WHiYOU are still standing out for unspoken voices. Still walking. Still raising awareness.

Words on a black hoodie: "you are not alone" and "your story matters"

14 Miles of Hope

On September 30th, Ben will walk the entire 14-mile Baton of Hope route through Torbay. Not for spotlight, but for solidarity.

“Walking all 14 miles is my way of honouring those we’ve lost, standing beside those still here, and reminding anyone struggling that their story truly matters,” Ben says.

The walk will raise funds for the Torbay Suicide Prevention legacy pot, ensuring that local projects have the resources to continue saving lives. Every step is a step toward connection. Every mile is a reminder that no one should walk alone.

The Torbay, Baton of Hope media image showing the gold and silver Baton of Hope

Hope Woven Into Fabric: The WHiYOU Designs

Inspired by the Baton of Hope, WHiYOU has created five exclusive designs around the message: Your Story Matters.

These designs are more than clothing. They are wearable conversations. Each piece invites openness, compassion, and courage,

whether you’re walking the route, supporting from afar, or simply reminding someone close to you that their story matters.

10% off automatically applied at checkout.
20% of proceeds donated to the Torbay Baton of Hope legacy pot.

Or you can donate directly to the official fundraising pot via the WHiYOU website.

When you wear WHiYOU, you’re not just wearing exceptionally sourced, ethical, super-soft organic cotton; you’re wearing a symbol of connection and hope.

BoH | Made Better | Organic Cotton Hoody

Buy Now

The Your Story Matters Hoodie, designed by WHiYOU, is being worn.

Lessons Along the Way

Ben’s story is not neat or tied up with a bow. It’s messy and honest.

“I thought being part of Baton of Hope meant I had to give everything. But what I’ve learned is that sometimes giving what you can is enough. Just showing up, in whatever way possible, matters. That’s true for me. That’s true for all of us.”

His words are a reminder for anyone struggling: capacity is not a measure of worth. Survival is victory. Showing up, even imperfectly, still makes an impact.

A Legacy for Torbay

Torbay is not just another stop on the Baton of Hope route. It’s a community touched by stories of loss and survival, resilience and connection. The Baton’s arrival marks an opportunity to rally together, invest in prevention, and build a legacy of hope for future generations.

With WHiYOU’s commitment, every purchase contributes directly to that legacy. A discount for the customer. A donation for the cause. A ripple effect for the community.

“Sometimes showing up means scaling back, but still standing strong. Walking this route is my way of saying: your story matters, you matter, and together, we can create hope.”