A 45-mile charity walk undertaken by six serving and ex-police officers took place on Saturday in memory of Keswick PC James Thistlethwaite for Every Life Matters (ELM).
Father-of-two James could often be found on duty patrolling the streets of the town, and just over a month after his birthday, he lost his battle to mental health on August 19, 2022.
The walk from Whitehaven to Penrith, which passed along the Keswick to Threlkeld trail, was taken on by his friends and was organised to raise awareness about suicide prevention and bereavement support in Cumbria.
James was referred to as a bundle of joy and the Love You Bye team taking part wanted to highlight that it’s OK to not be OK and that speaking about mental health is crucial to breaking the stigma.
The charity Every Life Matters has supported many of the team after the loss of James, but also works to train people in life saving suicide prevention skills.
Ahead of the walk, the fundraiser had already reached more than £6,000 and was being supported by James’s sister-in-law Gemma Cole and her husband Barry, of Keswick Motor Company, who followed the team in a van carrying snacks and refreshments helped by Colin Shearby.
The total raised earlier this week was £10,255 and this was boosted by the presentation of a £1,000 cheque by worshipful brother David Stephenson on behalf of Derwentwater Lodge No.6375, Keswick, at the halfway point of the walk at Fitz Park.
The team were also joined by staff from Every Life Matters on the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail where a banner was held in front of the walkers and James’s friends and family.
The Love You Bye team also invited the public to join them for a minute’s silence in Fitz Park, Keswick, where there is a plaque for James. Members of the public also joined the walk on the trail before the journey continued to Cumbria police headquarters at Penrith.
Paul Shearsby, part of the Love You Bye Team, said: “We chose to raise money for ELM following the passing of my best friend in August 2022. The very fact a charity like ELM has to exist is alarming.
“Unfortunately, people only know this organisation exists when they become involved in a family that is bereaved by suicide, little do people know about the preventative work ELM carry out. Prevention is better than cure and knowing that we will raise much needed funding to prevent future deaths is right to do so.
“Finding my friend on that fateful day will forever be my demon, the work I completed with ELM and support and guidance means I control that, they helped me through dark and troublesome times.
“They are also directly supporting my friend’s wife and two young children to understand and process their new family setting without a husband/father. Our friend was a police officer, someone who is “hard as nails” but again, this persona is not normal, feeling down and struggling is normal.
“Unfortunately, despite all our love, support and intervention, the battle was lost with the ultimate sacrifice.”
Emily Lishman, community fundraising co-ordinator at ELM said: “It was an absolute privilege to meet the team at Keswick alongside James’s friends and family, seeing so many people come together, rallying around one another and showing the importance of helping the people around you through difficult times.
“The team was joined by James’s friends and family and team members from Every Life Matters to take over the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail with a banner spreading the message that talking about suicide saves lives!
“We are so lucky to have such a determined team of fundraisers helping us to sustain our mission of making Cumbria suicide safer and to offer support to loved ones bereaved by suicide. We cannot thank everyone who has been a part of the Love You Bye walk enough!”
