Teesside leaders Walk into the Light for mental health awareness

The Build Directory

A large contingent of Teesside business leaders and friends embarked on a powerful torch-lit 10-mile walk, illuminating the path for mental health charities and awareness.

The Walk into the Light initiative, born out of an idea five years ago, saw participants trek through the darkness from an 11pm starting point at Osmotherley’s iconic Cod Beck Reservoir. It has previously started at Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Pictures: Walk into the Light

The walk finished as the sun came up after a beautiful moonlight trek, through pine forests, along ancient trails and on to part of the historic Cleveland Way route. It is designed to be a stark and beautiful reminder that light always follows the dark.

Event’s Creation

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

Alisdair Beveridge is pictured on the left. Pictures: Walk into the Light

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

“By walking through the night into sunrise, we share a message of hope – that darkness is temporary and light will always return,” said Alisdair.

“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.”

Annual Charity Event

Walk into the Light annually sees supporters of The Teesside Charity join trustees and patrons Alisdair and Bill Scott, from Wilton Engineering, walk to raise funds for Teesside-based mental health charities.

The first official Walk into the Light event in 2021 raised some huge support for mental health support in the North-East.
Since then, the initiative has grown significantly, with this year’s event adding to the impressive support with over £100,000 already raised over the past four years.

Notable Involvement

Among the notable figures joining Alisdair were former Big Brother (2005) contestant Anthony Hutton and local BBC presenter Gary Philipson, alongside numerous other dedicated business leaders and good friends.

Alisdair Beveridge is pictured with Anthony Hutton (second from right) and Gary Philipson (far right). Walk into the Light.

The determined walkers were well-equipped for their overnight journey, backed with snacks, headtorches and plenty of spare batteries along the route.

Alisdair said: “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’s Legacy

“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.”

Pictures: Walk into the Light

And Anthony Hutton explained why he was so keen to get involved.
Anthony, founder of Never Throw in the Towel project, which aims to tackle 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.

Donate

“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.”

*For those wishing to contribute to this crucial cause, donations can still be made via the JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/page/callumbeveridge?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL