A charity walk has been organised to raise money for Cumbria-based mental health charity Every Life Matters, in memory of police officer James Thistlethwaite who lost his life to suicide in August 2023.
James would often be found on duty patrolling the streets of Keswick, and just over a month after his birthday last year, he lost his battle to mental health on August 19.
One person he would regularly be on duty with was Paul, who likened his best friend to someone who was quite simply an incredible person to be around.
“James was like a guy on blue Smarties, a bundle of energy and joy,” he said.
“I miss everything about him, talking on video calls as I cooked, random messages, a safe shoulder to cry on, someone I could rely on to be there for me and my family, his hugs and his sense of humour. Simply, he was a legend.”
In the latest data collected by the Office for National Statistics in 2022, there were 5,642 suicides in England and Wales. Around 75 per cent of suicides were male victims, with 4,179 deaths.
Almost one year on, Paul, with five of James’ close friends and work colleagues, will be walking 45 miles non-stop on July 13 – what would have been James’ 45th birthday.
Setting off from Whitehaven Harbour, the six will make their way through West Cumbria, entering the Lakes with a brief period spent on the Keswick-Threlkeld Trail, before finishing the trek at Cumbria police headquarters in Penrith.
The group wants to normalise opening up about mental health and raise awareness of the illness.
Paul said: “I have been diagnosed with mental illness and the day I found James was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The fact a charity like Every Life Matters exists speaks volumes.
“Despite support groups etc, the reality is that suicide is the biggest killer in men under the age of 50, and we need to normalise the conversations around mental health and how that conversation can change a person’s direction.
“I watched James battle for a long time, this is simply not acceptable and is avoidable.
“The Government needs to steer the services with the right funding to enable better interventions.”
But James wasn’t just a police officer, he was also a husband to Jennifer and a father to Billy and Iona.
And his wider family have been getting involved in the charity walk, with James’ sister-in-law Gemma Cole and her husband, of Keswick Motor Company, planning to follow the group along in their van with food and drink to keep them refreshed.
With plenty of people getting behind the fundraiser — which has raised more than £2,500 already — Paul encouraged anybody wishing to cheer them on to join them on their leg between Keswick and Threlkeld.
“Anyone can join us when we land in Keswick by the school and walk with us along the Threlkeld line, then watch us hobble away to Penrith,” he
said.
“Donations are always welcome to support Every Life Matters, but the spreading of awareness is paramount. Anyone who sees six middle aged fellas on the side of the road, feel free to throw words of encouragement or ice lollies!”
