Darlington charity walk for ManHealth in memory of Harvey McWilliams

The walk around Darlington, which raised money for Shildon-based mental health charity ManHealth, visited eight of the football clubs that Harvey represented. 

The budding teenage footballer took his own life just before Christmas 2021, leaving his friends and family devastated at losing their “tornado of joy”. 

The walk started at Darlington FC and looped around the town. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Organised by Harvey's family and friends, this was the second annual walk - and the family has every intention to host a memorial walk every year to raise money for charity and get more men talking about their mental health.  

Football-mad Harvey had played for many local clubs, and the 14-mile, seven-hour-long walk visited some of them – including Darlington Football Club, Longfield Academy, and Blackwell Rangers.

Read more: Darlington walk for Harvey McWilliams will visit local football clubs

Harvey McWilliams. (Image: Handout)

Hundreds of people turned out to walk alongside Harvey's family, including from as far as Northumberland and London, and some who had never met Harevy but had been touched by his story. 

Before the walk, Harvey’s dad, Michael McWilliams, spoke to The Northern Echo.

He said: "On the one hand we are really excited, but on the other, we don't want to be doing it.

"Suicide isn't just about depression and PTSD, you can just be pushed into a corner. 

"It is going to be really emotional for us, we're still grieving. But we want to do this every year in Harvey’s memory, and to get the word out for the mental health charity."

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Walkers donned their football kit in honour of Harvey. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The family is still grieving Harvey’s unexpected death.

Michael said: "It is horrible, but we have to get through it. There are hundreds of people still turning out for Harvey – the walk will be brilliant, but really emotional for us all."

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As well as their annual walk, Harvey’s family and friends have also set up a charity foundation in his name.

The Harvey McWilliams Foundation will operate a boot and equipment library, which will allow people to donate their old football kit, including boots, socks, and shin pads, for others to use.

The family “has wanted to do this for a long while, to give something back” and has already had more than 400 pairs of football boots donated for them to lend out.

To sponsor the walk, follow this link.