A PAIR of Stocksfield siblings are tackling the stigma around mental health by taking on the Great North Run in memory of their brother.

Darren White (40), from Stocksfield, took his own life in May this year, leaving his family devastated by the impact of his mental health problems.

But his sister, Sarah Lofthouse, and brother, Roy White, will be completing the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday in support of the mental health charity Mind, to try to help others who could also be struggling with mental health.

Sarah said Darren, who was well known in Tynedale through his links with Stocksfield Cricket Club and his love for football and darts, was always offering support to others, but sadly wasn’t able to discuss his own problems.

“He was an amazing person; he always had someone on the phone and was always there for everyone,” she said.

Sarah (34), a keen runner, now lives in West Yorkshire, and has been travelling back to Stocksfield to train with 43-year-old Roy as much as possible.

“Darren always supported me within sport,” she said.

“As a younger sister he taught me to throw a ball, and it seemed fitting to celebrate him through running the Great North Run, but also to open up the profile of mental health by running for Mind.

“It’s not just about money, but raising awareness of mental health.

“People find it a lot more acceptable to get an inhaler for asthma or take a blood pressure tablet, but with mental health there’s very much a stigma, and Darren didn’t feel he could talk to anybody.

“The words ‘it’s OK not to be OK’ are so important. People think we have to be able to deal with anything but life is harder than that. If people can realise that and not think depression is a weakness, hopefully more people will go out there and be able to get the help they need.”

Sarah has also been sharing social media messages to educate people on mental health, as well as offering support to anyone who might be dealing with it, which she said has led to messages of thanks and encouragement from people she’s never met.

You can help Sarah and Roy on their fundraising mission by donating to their Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Louise-Lofthouse1?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Sarah-Louise-Lofthouse1&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=dvvwRGb56.