Teesside urged to join ‘Walk Into The Light’ as fundraiser reaches £115,000 milestone

Walk Into The Light

Teesside’s business community and residents are being urged to lace up their walking boots for a life-changing cause.

The cause continues to shine a crucial spotlight on mental wellbeing across the region.

The Walk into the Light fundraiser is returning. It invites participants to embark on an overnight trek that symbolises the journey from despair to hope.

Setting off at 11pm on Friday, June 5, walkers will leave Cod Beck Reservoir. They will navigate a specially guided route through ancient trails and pine forests. The route is perfectly timed to finish as the sun rises.

Picture: Alisdair Beveridge.

Now in its sixth year, the event has grown from a personal tribute into a genuine community movement. Driven by the Teesside Charity and its dedicated supporters, the initiative has just crossed a monumental milestone. It has raised over £115,000 for local mental health causes across five events since 2021.

The Story Behind the Walk

The inspiration for the walk was born from a conversation between charity trustees. Those trustees were Alisdair Beveridge, of the Build Directory, and Bill Scott OBE, of Wilton Group. Alisdair wanted to create the event following the tragic loss of his younger brother, Callum, to suicide at just 15 years old.

“Callum was only 15. Popular, fit, healthy, with great foundations and untouched by many of the pressures of adult life,” Alisdair said. “But mental health doesn’t discriminate. The weeds can invade any garden.”

The idea to walk through the night was sparked by author Jim Rohn’s book, The Seasons of Life.

“He talks metaphorically about the seasons we all go through -personally, professionally, emotionally – and reminds us that after winter comes spring, and after darkness comes daylight,” Alisdair said.

From Solo Walk to Community Movement

When the inaugural 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19, Alisdair took it upon himself to complete a solo overnight walk to Lordstones Café in the pouring rain.

He said: “During that walk I saw shooting stars, spoke to Bill and my brother on the phone… It was magical, cathartic, and I knew instantly that a group of people walking together through darkness with torches towards sunrise could become something really special – a way of shedding light on a dark subject.”

The poignant reality of mental health struggles in the region was further underscored by the tragic passing of Russ Devereux. Learning about The Headlight Project – founded in Russ’ memory – Alisdair knew they had found the partnership to channel this energy.

Picture: Alisdair Beveridge.

£115,000 Raised for Mental Health

While Alisdair acknowledges there is no “one-size-fits-all solution” to mental health, he believes the walk carries a message about the power of time. Guided by outdoor specialists Overlimits, the event has evolved from its early days in Middleton-in-Teesdale to a polished operation at Cod Beck.

The £115,000 raised so far has provided life-saving funding to several crucial local organisations. These include The Headlight Project, Middlesbrough College, Teesside Mind, Teesside Samaritans and Minds for Men.

A Nationwide Vision

Looking ahead, organisers believe this is just the beginning. With successful outreach already taking the initiative directly into local colleges, Alisdair thinks Walk into the Light can become a nationwide phenomenon.

“What started as a simple idea has become a genuine community movement built around remembrance, hope, conversation and connection,” he said.

Join the Walk in 2025

Organisers are calling on businesses, teams and individuals to help make this year’s trek the biggest yet. Entry costs just £35. Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £200 in sponsorship to fund further life-changing support.

You can sign up for the event here www.teessidecharity.org.uk/events/walk-into-the-light-3/