On 26 September 2026, communities across Medway came together to reveal two new Legend on the Bench suicide prevention benches in Hoo and Cliffe Woods, thanks to the Stronger Together Project, a community fundraising group supporting suicide prevention charities through local events that bring people together.
The Stronger Together Project raised over £4,600 for Legend on the Bench through this event alone, with £1,300 of that total generously donated by St George Abadan Lodge 6058.
The Attendance
The attendance was outstanding, with around 400 people joining across the walk, the two bench reveals and the community celebration.
It means so much to see people giving up their time to come together and support something that can make such a difference. Looking around and seeing so many people there showed just how much these benches mean to the communities they become part of.
Michelle described it as:
“The busiest bench reveal to date and was amazing awareness. The whole day the Stronger Together Project put on was incredible. They really brought the community together, in fact, I think the whole community was there!”
The Walk
The day began with The Mayor’s Walk to Remember #MedwayW2R, supported by the Mayor of Medway, Douglas Hamandishe.
A total of 65 walkers started at their first Legend on the Bench in Wainscott, Bench #24, before walking around four miles to reveal their new second bench at Hoo Village Square, Bench #155.
They then continued for another four miles to the finish and celebration event in Cliffe Woods, where their third bench, Bench #156, was revealed at Parkside.
Thank you to every person who took part in the walk for your effort and commitment. You are all amazing. 💙
The Unveilings
There were two incredibly moving bench reveals during the day.
The first took place at 12pm in Hoo Village Square, where Bench #155 was unveiled.
The second took place at 3pm in Cliffe Woods, where Bench #156 was revealed in Parkside as walkers reached the finish.
Each reveal was a really touching and emotional moment. When that covering comes away and you see the bench for the first time, it always brings a lump to your throat. Because you don’t just see a bench, you see what it represents. You see a place where somebody can sit when life feels overwhelming. A place where someone can take a moment, gather their thoughts, talk to someone, or simply know that they are not completely alone. These benches carry a message of hope. They are a visible reminder that conversations matter, that listening matters, and that sometimes being there for somebody can mean more than we will ever know.
For Nat, the Cliffe Woods bench has a very personal meaning.
After losing her best friend Krystal Lilley, aged 31, to suicide in December 2024, Nat decided to turn that pain into something positive and proactive, creating the Stronger Together Project alongside fellow co-founders Adam Palmer and Lee Mills in March 2026.
The Speeches
The speeches were brilliant and, as you would expect, very emotional, but also powerfully inspiring.
There were some incredibly heartfelt words spoken, and moments like this remind us why it is so important to keep talking about mental health and suicide.
Sometimes simply having the courage to speak can help someone else find the courage to listen. It’s also an opportunity to thank everyone in attendance and the people who gave so much to make this happen. 💙
The Celebration
The walk finished with a huge community celebration in Cliffe Woods, featuring children’s entertainers, animal encounters, inflatables, arts and crafts, a fire engine, live music and more, with a special guest appearance from Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock.
A massive thank you to Adam Palmer, Lee Mills and Natalie Beaumont-Robson from the Stronger Together Project, along with the volunteers and supporters who helped make the day possible. The time, energy, fundraising and commitment you continue to put into Legend on the Bench is incredible. You are helping to turn an idea into something real that will remain in the community and hopefully make a difference for years to come. Thank you so much for everything you do and are doing, just know you are very, very much appreciated. 💙💙
A massive thank you also to the incredible volunteers and walkers, Cliffe Woods Community Centre and Social Club, Maritime Academy, Thinking Fitness, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, the Mayor of Medway, Neil Ruddock, Beats Workin, St George Abadan Lodge 6058, North Kent Mind, Medway Council, and everyone else who gave their time, support, services, donations or encouragement. 💙🙏
Big thank you to our very own founder Michelle Hazard and her husband Lee Mead. Despite your own heartbreak, you are out there supporting and helping others who find themselves in dark places they don’t want to be. Your courage inspires me, your bravery astounds me, best of all you are my sister and the best sister ever. 💙💙💙
And that is what makes these days so special.
There may be a lot of hard work behind every bench, but when you stand there and see it unveiled, you realise exactly what all that effort is for.
It’s for the person who might need somewhere to sit. It’s for the person who might need someone to talk to. It’s for the family who never wants another family to experience the pain they have felt. And ultimately, it’s about giving hope when someone may feel that they have none left. 💙
As we drove away from Medway, we couldn’t help thinking about how many lives these benches could touch in the years ahead.
We may never know the names of the people who sit on them, we may never hear their stories. But perhaps one day, someone will sit there at their lowest point, look at the message, take a breath, make a phone call, start a conversation and choose to carry on.
If that happens just once, these benches will have done something extraordinary.
So we keep going.
One bench, one conversation, one moment of hope. 💙🙏
That’s why we do it.
