Brian Browne of Browne's Coachworks with the family of 16-year-old Naomi Wilson at Browne's Coachworks during the Dedication of an SOS bus in' Naomi's Memory. US1208-110A0

A BUS which will be used to support suicide and self harm protection has been dedicated to the memory of a Dromore girl who took her own life on her 15th birthday last October.

Supporters and voluntary staff of SOS Bus NI came together last Friday to dedicate the bus to Naomi Wilson who committed suicide on October 9 2007.

The dedication was all the more poignant as Naomi's brother, Jonny, assisted in the building of SOS Bus NI.

People who have been in Belfast may have already seen, heard or perhaps benefited from SOS Bus NI in its role assisting night time support in Belfast City Centre, but now it is moving onto its next role of providing educational support and awareness promotion of suicide and self harm prevention, across Northern Ireland, in its day time capacity.

Naomi's brother Jonny said: "I think this is a great honour that Naomi's name is remembered in this way, I hope that the SOS Bus Project and Naomi's memory will help to assist others in the future."

The Wilson family were at Browns Coachworks on the Moira Road for the dedication, along with key supporters of the SOS Bus NI.

Joe Hyland, Director of SOS Bus NI added: "Naomi's story is a tragic one, her links to the project are obviously very close as Jonny spent months working on a vehicle designed to bring support to those in need.

"SOS Bus is continuing to increase its influence on a local level in night time support but now we need to focus on our educational support and awareness promotion on issue like suicide awareness. I encourage organisations out there to contact us if they would like to use SOS Bus NI and I would especially like to invite potential sponsors and fundraisers to assist us in making a change."

julieann.spence@jpress.co.uk

Ulster Star
21/03/2008