Mental health charity hike smashes target

James Thistlethwaite worked as a police officer in Cumbria

A charity walk for a Cumbrian police officer who took his own life last year has smashed its fundraising target.

James Thistlethwaite died on 19 August 2023 following a PTSD diagnosis.

He would have turned 45 on Saturday, when his friends will trek 45 miles (72km) from Whitehaven Harbour to the Cumbria Police Federation HQ in Penrith in aid of the mental health charity Every Life Matters.

The target of £1,000 has already been surpassed, with £6,000 raised so far.

The hike has been named "Love you, Bye" in memory of what James would say, organisers said.

James, from Keswick, was a father and uncle

James' sister-in-law Gemma Cole said: "Jim spent his life giving to others.

"The day James was taken from us was the day he wasn't able to fight his own illness anymore.

"To me that's no different to an illness taking away a loved one, such as cancer."

He left behind his wife and two children.

Love You, Bye is a team of six who will trek across Cumbria raising money for charity

The group of six taking on the challenge have been completing training walks in the snow and sunshine in the build up to the event.

"The full team are absolutely overwhelmed with the amount raised," a message on the fundraising page read.

Organisers invited people to gather in Keswick to meet the walkers and take on the Keswick to Threlkeld line as a large group.

Joining up with members of the public would "symbolise that nobody has to suffer in silence", they said.