Daniel Craig sends touching video to Manchester dad on 600-mile walk in memory of late daughter

Daniel Craig has sent a message of support to three dads, including one from Manchester, as they take on a 600-mile trek across the UK in aid of suicide prevention.

The trio, who have all lost their daughters to suicide, are walking between all four parliaments of the UK nations to raise money for Warrington-based charity Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide.

Known as the “3 Dads Walking,” the men have already raised over £880,000 for the charity, having completed a 300-mile walk last year.

The James Bond actor, who has also donated £10,000 to the cause, described the fathers’ undertaking as “incredible.”

He said: “What you achieved last time round and are about to do now is just truly, truly heroic. I’m sending you love and my best wishes.

“Shout loudly. I know you’ll be heard.”

They started at Stormont in Northern Ireland on September 9, then made their way through Scotland and are currently walking through northern England to Wales. They will end their journey at Westminster on October 10.

Mike Palmer from Sale, one of the three dads, is walking for his daughter Beth, who died in March 2020 aged 17.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant of Daniel Craig to do that. It means so much to us to have made such an impression.

“It just shows that we are getting suicide talked about. That’s the whole point of why we are doing this.”

Mike is joined by Tim Owen from Norfolk, who also lost his 19-year-old daughter Emily in March 2020, and Andy Airey from Cumbria, whose 29-year-old daughter Sophie committed suicide in 2018.

In particular, the three dads are calling for suicide prevention to become part of the school curriculum.

Andy said: “Around 200 schoolchildren are lost to suicide every year. That is both a tragedy and a national scandal which needs to be addressed.

“Our walk is to provide a focus for continuing the conversation with governments about embedding suicide prevention in the school curriculum.

“Young people want to know more about mental wellbeing and where to get help and schools have a vital role to play in saving young lives.”

Mike added: “We’re walking for a month and we’ll be talking for a month. Talking about how we need to equip our young people with life-skills which they can carry through the rest of their lives to protect themselves and others.”

The bereaved fathers have been overwhelmed by the heartfelt messages of support received from Daniel Craig and a host of other celebrities, including Nicole Kidman, boxer Ricky Hatton and Manchester United legend Lou Macari, who also lost his son to suicide.

Tim, from Shouldham in Norfolk, said: “It’s going to be an epic. It’s obviously double the distance of our last walk, double the time and so hopefully we’ll meet double the people.

“Papyrus works across all four nations and so it makes sense to have a route across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England and the seats of power where people can unlock this and potentially save lives.”

Ged Flynn, chief executive of Papyrus, said: “Andy, Mike and Tim are helping to start conversations in homes where families were unwilling to discuss suicide.

“It is remarkable that these proud fathers, who are each trying to deal with their own grief in their own way, have found a positive path forward together.”

Follow the three dads’ progress on their website, where you will also find details on how to donate.

• For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice contact PAPYRUS’ HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email [email protected]