Brave couple to walk from Glasgow to Cambridgeshire in memory of brother who took his own life

George and Cindy Downey will embark on the mammoth feat next July, starting in Glasgow and over 14 days, will walk to St Neots in Cambridgeshire after George’s brother Pat died in February 2020.

The duo have already raised over £1400 for Hector’s House - a suicide prevention charity.

George and Cindy Downey

The organisation supports people who are in crisis through a text facility and they receive a phone call immediately. They also do important work in schools and colleges.

Pat was just 25 when he died, leaving behind his partner Nicole and two young sons.

Settling in St Neots, Pat and George’s family originally hail from Maryhill where members of their family still reside.

Pat took his own life in February 2020

Cindy described Pat as the “life and soul of the party.” She said: “He was loved by everyone in all of the local pubs in St Neots. Everybody knew him. He was really a big character and he was loved by all. He loved football. He was a Celtic fan. He was just a real kind soul.”

George and Pat’s Dad passed away when Pat was just 14 which Cindy says had a “massive impact” on him. Cindy added: “He’s had times when he was low in his mood but no one had spoken to each other. It was a case of no one talking to each other almost out of respect for Pat.”

“We’re planning to walk from Glasgow to St Neots and while we’re in Glasgow, we are going to walk past the house where Pat was born and walk past the house of his grandad, his uncle and his father and we aim to do that in two weeks.

“We’ve worked out it’s around 350 miles and we’re just planning the route now.

“We really want to raise awareness for suicide prevention and the more we do this, the more people we speak to, the more people we realise have taken their lives. Every time I meet someone, they’re like: I’ve had a relative who has passed away and this is really important me.

“It’s so important to get the message across because if we can help someone else then it will all be worth it.”

Pat was not the first in his family to take his own life. His father died in 2010, his uncle in 2002 and his grandfather died in 1980 and all took their own life.

George said that suicide impacted those closest to him before he was born. He said: “My maternal Grandad took his own life the year before I was born.

"Fast forward 22 years and my Mum’s favourite maternal uncle took his own life just as my grandad had all those years before. This was devastating for her.

"Fast forward another 8 years and the man I called dad, my Mum’s ex-husband and Pat’s dad also took his own life.

“Losing Pat encouraged me to train as a counselling therapist and through this I had a chance meeting with the CEO (Lotte Stringer) of the suicide prevention charity Hector's House.

“What her and her family are achieving in supporting and raising a wareness for suicide prevention is so inspiring and has inspired me to complete this walk to raise much needed awareness and funds for such an important cause, which affects our society daily.”

Cindy and George have started a Justgiving page and are training hard for their walk and a facebook page called Pacing4Pat, to update loved ones on their progress. She added: “Pacing4Pat350 will be a long walk and every step will be in memory of Pat, raising awareness and funds to support Hectors House support those thinking and feeling it is their last walk.”

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123.