The Harvey McWilliams Foundation will walk from Darlington to Exeter, honoring Harvey McWilliams and raising charity awareness.
Six people will walk 356 miles. They will start the “For Harvey” walk on May 25. It is the fourth annual walk, and they will walk around the clock.
Harvey McWilliams was a student at Exeter University. Sadly, he took his own life in 2021 at just 18 years old. His parents described him as a “tornado of joy”.
His dad, Michael McWilliams, started the foundation in 2022 to honor Harvey, who loved football. Harvey played for Darlington FC and supported Sunderland. Michael donates used football gear, including boots, socks, and shin pads, to young players in Harvey’s name.
Michael said the walk will be emotional, connecting to Harvey’s life, who played for clubs in Exeter and Darlington before university. The team will take shifts, with two people walking at a time while others rest. They want to raise awareness for the charity, something Michael has wanted to do for a while.
Exeter has a strong connection to Harvey, as it was the last place he lived and played football. Walking there will be tough for Michael as he’ll pass Harvey’s old room.
The walk is a team effort, and Michael is asking walking groups to join, even for just a few miles. He wants to get people talking about mental health and bullying.