Three dads who raised more than £800,000 for suicide awareness are off on their latest epic challenge.
Last year Threlkeld’s Andy Airey, alongside Mike Palmer and Tim Owen, walked 300 miles in memory of their daughters, who they each lost to suicide. Starting at Andy’s Cumbrian home, the route took them through Sale, where Mike lives, finishing their journey at Tim’s home in Norfolk.
On Friday, the three dads set off on another walk – this time taking in much of the UK.
Starting in Northern Ireland, they will walk through Scotland, Cumbria and Wales before finishing at the gates of Parliament in London.
They hope to raise more than £1 million for suicide charity Papyrus as well as raising awareness, in memory of their daughters and the thousands of young people lost to suicide in the UK each year.
Born and bred in Threlkeld, Andy went to Keswick School and worked at George Fisher outdoor shop for 26 years. His life was turned upside down in December 2018 when his daughter Sophie took her own life.
By raising awareness of suicide prevention, encouraging families to talk to each other about their deepest feelings and introducing thousands of people to the lifesaving work of Papyrus it was clear that the stigma of talking about suicide had been reduced,” he said.
“Talking openly about our family’s experience of losing Sophie ensured that other families were saved from suffering the same excruciating pain, loss and grief.”
Ged Flynn, Papyrus chief executive, said: “Andy, Mike and Tim were leading different lives in different parts of the country and would probably never have met had they not been brought together by the tragedy and trauma of suicide which has shattered their lives and the lives of those around them.
“As the Three Dads Walking they are able to channel their energy and focus on what they can do to help save young lives.
“They have already helped to start conversations in homes where families were unwilling to discuss suicide. It is remarkable that these proud fathers, who are each trying to deal with their own grief in their own way, have found a positive path forward together.”
