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Business leaders and friends 'Walk into the Light' for mental health awareness

A large group of North East business leaders and friends embarked on a torch-lit 10-mile walk to raise money for mental health charities.

The Walk into the Light initiative saw people trek through the night from the starting point at Cod Beck Reservoir in Osmotherley.

The personal event was conceived in 2020 by Alisdair Beveridge, managing director of home improvement service The Build Directory, and a trustee of The Teesside Charity, and his sister Hannah.

Their motivation stemmed from the 'unimaginable loss' of their younger brother, Callum, who passed away at the age of 15, some years earlier.

Participants started walking at 11pm and made their way through pine forests and ancient trails, walking part of the Cleveland Way route.

The event, which Alisdair describes as a 'stark and beautiful reminder that light always follows the dark', concluded at sunrise.

Mr Beveridge said: "By walking through the night into sunrise, we share a message of hope - that darkness is temporary and light will always return.

"If we hold on, we give ourselves the chance to heal, grow and embrace life at its fullest.

"If there’s hope in the future, there is power in the present."

The initiative, which started as a personal event in 2020, has grown significantly over the years, raising more than £100,000 for Teesside-based mental health charities.

The first official Walk into the Light event in 2021 raised significant support for mental health in the North-East.

Among the participants were former Big Brother contestant Anthony Hutton and BBC presenter Gary Philipson.

Mr Hutton, founder of the Never Throw in the Towel project, which tackles suicide, said: "Everything in life has an opposite.

"The Walk into the Light is a message that highlights in those dark times that there will always be light if you just want to keep going and never throw in the towel.

"We will have bad times but the good times will come again.

"This is a huge problem, it’s so important that charities and initiatives continue to tackle and do amazing work and it can’t be done without funding."

The walkers were prepared for the overnight journey, equipped with snacks, head torches, and spare batteries.

Alisdair added: "In 2009, we lost our younger brother Callum at 15.

"He was healthy, loved and full of life.

"His passing reminds us that pressure knows no boundaries - age, status and success offer no immunity.

"At some point, everyone faces struggles that feel unbearable.

"Callum was confident and happy. And then, suddenly, he was gone.

"We live with a Callum-shaped hole that can never be filled, but his legacy binds our family and reminds us that life is fragile and precious - a gift to protect.

"There’s no universal solution to despair, but there is hope - and one vital lifeline: time.

"Time allows healing, growth and the chance to find joy again."

The walk continues to attract supporters of The Teesside Charity, with this year's event adding to the total of more than £100,000 raised in the past four years.

Donations can still be made on the JustGiving page.

How to support

Donate now: https://www.justgiving.com/page/callumbeveridge?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL 

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