A music festival that took place this weekend to help raise suicide awareness eleven months after a County Durham teenager attempted to take his own life has been hailed as a great success.
Music lovers and charity supporters gathered at the TCR Hub in Barnard Castle yesterday (May 4) for the first-ever George's Friend Fest.
The event was organised by charity 'I'm George's Mate' which was set up after 17-year-old George Rabbett-Smith attempted suicide on June 4 last year.
George's parents David and Hilary returned home and quickly performed CPR on their son who was airlifted from their home in Bowes, County Durham, to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.
The charity was then set up in hopes that no other young person would go through the same battle as George, and offers information, support and guidance on mental health and suicide.
This music festival is the latest event held by the charity to educate young people on suicide prevention through George's story.
Following the festival, George's mum Hilary said: "It was very good and a real success - we had several charities come along as well as a lot of bands. We had a great turnout.
"Everyone was really keen to hear about the charity and what our aims are. There was a real positive attitude."
Multiple bands including Zararuth, Finlay Hudson, The Royals, Decades and The River Rats took to the stage across the 12-hour festival.
Pictures from the day show attendees enjoying the live music and taking in the atmosphere.
Hilary added: "It was an incredible event and was really well supported - we are a young persons charity and a large number of young people attended.
"There was also some feedback from the parents of young people about the impact George's story has had on their families too.
"As a family, we were pleased that we got the message across and it was a positive experience out of the negative.
"We are hoping to make it an annual event, and we have already spoken to a couple of bands who will hopefully support us again next year."
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