Emotional fundraiser will see son cycle from St James’s Park in Newcastle to Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park in memory of dad

Adam, 21, from Hartlepool, was left devastated when his dad Barry who took his own life at the age of just 50 eight years ago while he was still at school.

On Saturday, June 6, Adam and close friend Callum Atter, 24, will get on their bikes and ride 32 miles from St James’s Park in Newcastle to Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park.

Proceeds will go to Hartlepool charity Miles for Men’s new mental health cause Minds for Men and they have already raised about £1,000.

Adam, of the Headland, was around 13 when he remembers getting the heartbreaking phone call to tell him that his dad had died.

He said: “Dad had been down for a while. At the time I didn’t know a lot about mental health.

“I was with him most nights and give him a bit of support as did my two older sisters.

“It’s just good that I can do something for him to try to raise a bit of money for people in the situation now that need help.”

Adam, who works as a store assistant, chose to cycle from and to the two football grounds as they were the first that Barry took him to when he was little and where he still goes.

He was inspired to support Minds for Men by Hartlepool fireman Liam Lewis who recently ran 19 miles from North Tees hospital in Stockton to Hartlepool hospital wearing full kit in aid.

Adam added: “I’m not a keen cyclist, I just thought it would be a good idea.

“I’ve done a few of the Miles for Men runs in the past and when I saw Liam do his run the other week it really appealed to me.

“I spoke to Micky Day from Minds for Men and he told me about what they are doing and their plans for the future.

“Hopefully, the money we raise will go a long way to that.”

Adam and Callum have a fundraising page at JustGiving.com where people can give.

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