Gombeys will march through St David’s on Saturday for an event intended to bring the island together in the aftermath of recent violence.

Organiser Desmond Crockwell said that while the event was already planned before the murder of 17-year-old Ethan Arruda, the senseless killing showed the need for the community to come together.

“It is important that we still push because there are vulnerable young people out there,” he said. “There are families suffering.

“We want to continue this until it is down to zero murders and we will continue to get more people involved.”

Mr Crockwell said that the violence was not limited to one part of the island, one group of people or one gender, and a whole-community response was needed.

“These incidents of violence have a mental health impact,” he added. “The traumatic experiences felt don’t stop when the newspapers stop reporting on it.

“Families are still living with these traumatic experiences. There is still a lingering loss in their lives.

“We want them to know that they are not alone, that there are people who can offer them support. Emotional support and physical support. Even people giving you a hug means something.”

He said the event is scheduled to start at 6pm at the BLDC field near the junction of Tommy Fox Road and Pepper Half Road in St David’s, with participants eventually progressing to St David’s County Cricket Club.

Mr Crockwell added: “We will be doing this again many more times around the island and we hope that people will want to join in and get involved.”