Three Dads Walking reach finish line as they complete charity drive

Three fathers who lost their daughters to suicide have completed their charity drive to raise funds for suicide awareness programmes.

Tim Owen from Norfolk, Andy Airey from Cumbria and Mike Palmer from Manchester challenged themselves to walk 500 miles (805km) in aid of a number of charities that supported them after their daughters took their own lives.

Starting off in Stirling in Scotland on April 17th, the trio have made their way down the UK, and were applauded for their actions by those who supported their cause.

Now, after five weeks on the road, the men have finished their initiative by reaching the finish line in the Norfolk town of Norwich.

Having been put together by the charity Papyrus, which is dedicated to preventing suicide and mental health, the men's drive saw them meeting with politicians to ensure that mental health issues are addressed and suicide prevention should be on the national curriculum.

In total, some £126,000 has been raised thanks to the initiative, the proceeds of which will go to Papyrus.

Speaking to us, Tim Owen said that having someone go through the heartbreaking loss of someone to suicide made things much easier.

"When you meet someone that's just lost their young boy three weeks ago - and that could have been avoided - it makes you think that we can do more for society," he said.

"We can do more and we need to stop more families going through that devastation."

Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.

• suicide