South Shields to Seaham 32-mile coastal walk to take place in aid of South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

A group of walkers will take on a 32-mile trek along the coast in a bid to raise awareness and money for volunteers who save lives on our shore.

The Crusade for Brigade event will see people walking from the pier in South Shields all the way down the coast to the Tommy Statue in Seaham in aid of South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade. (SSVLB)

The brigade volunteers work all year round, attending incidents along the coast in all weathers, and all all times of day.

The walk will help raise awareness of their dedication, but also funds to enable them to carry out the life-saving work they do each day.

The walkers at the Tommy sculpture in Seaham in 2021.

Angie Comerford, who will be taking part in the challenge, said: “After doing this last year I can say it’s not for the faint-hearted but I can one million percent guarantee you’ll have the best day ever. The morale along the way is simply amazing and we all get each other through.

"These guys are out in all weathers saving lives daily. Let’s do this for them.”

The 2021 event saw those taking part raise just under £2,000 for SSVLB, but they hope to raise more this year with more people taking part.

Angie’s main reason for setting up the walk focuses on mental health, after she sadly lost her dad to suicide nine years ago.

Since then Angie – who also founded the Hebburn Helps charity – has campaigned and taken part in fundraising events for mental health and suicide prevention causes.

She said: "The cuts in mental health services have been pretty substantial so I wanted to do something that would benefit the actual heroes on the ground.

"Tom Fennelly – who I call my captain Tom – is a life long volunteer for them and he will be riding and driving the route along with us for support and refreshments and to take anyone home who can’t finish it.”

Crusade for Brigade takes place, Saturday, 21 May, leaving South Shields pier at 5.45am. Anyone who wishes to find out more or take part can do so by joining the Facebook group.

Take a virtual walk through planned new South Tyneside 'Tri-station' as it moves...

Support your Gazette and become a subscriber today.

Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters.

Your support for our journalism means we can continue telling South Tyneside’s stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe - and click here to get a snapshot of the Gazette’s news and sport to your inbox through our email newsletters.