Friends unite in memory walk for much loved Leon and to raise money for his 2-year-old daughter
“Leon will never be forgotten and will always be remembered”
Sixteen friends will tomorrow (July 31) embark on a 45 mile walk from Alnwick Castle to the Stadium of Light in memory of much loved Leon Pattinson who tragically took his own life last year (2025) at the age of 25.
The 100,000 steps for Leon walk has been organised by his close friend, David Reed, to help give his now two-year-old daughter August “the best start in life” and to raise awareness of men’s mental health and to “get men talking”.
David, 35, said: "This walk means so much to all of us. Losing Leon has had a massive impact on everyone who knew and loved him, and we wanted to do something positive in his memory while supporting the people he cared about most, especially his little girl.
“The money raised will help to set up a trust fund for Leon’s little girl to help fund some of the things in life that would normally be provided by two parents. Whether that’s her first car, a holiday in memory of her dad, or going to university, we just want to give her the best start in life.”
A portion of the money raised will also be donated to Andy’s Man Club, the men’s mental health charity chosen by Leon’s family. Suicide continues to be the biggest cause of death in men under 50.
David said: “Andy's Man Club is an incredible charity that supports men through mental health struggles and reminds people they never have to suffer alone. Part of this walk is about raising awareness of men’s metal health and the need to talk.
“Men can be stubborn and so hopefully this walk will help to get men talking and not having to work through their problems alone.”
The friends are due to start their overnight walk at 6pm from Alnwick Castle, finishing the following day at the Stadium of Light.
David said: “Leon was from Town End Farm and was a massive Sunderland AFC fan, and so we were always going to finish at the Stadium of Light. When I Googled the distance from the stadium to the equivalent distance of 100,000 steps, Alnwick was one of the locations which came up.
“We will be doing a slight detour to visit Leon’s grave in Red House to lay down some flowers. Sixteen of us will be starting the walk and I’m sure other people will be joining us on the way.”
After finishing at the Stadium of Light, Leon’s friends and family will be heading to the Sky Lounge in Washington to “celebrate Leon’s life” and to raise further funds with a raffle of prizes donated by local businesses.
David said: “The kindness people have shown has been overwhelming. Local businesses have donated prizes, sponsored the event and offered their support without hesitation. It really shows the strength of our community, and we can't thank everyone enough for getting behind us.
"This is about more than just a walk. It's about friendship, support, memories and creating a lasting legacy for Leon that we can all be proud of. Leon will never be forgotten and will always be remembered.”
You can donate to David’s cause via his GoFundMe page.