A North East teenager is set to courageously walk over 150 miles across the country in memory of his father, who tragically took his own life in May 2019.
17-year-old Cameron Dodd from Darlington came up with the idea of a trek, before deciding on destinations commemorating his father's love of football.
His father Steven loved both Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC, so it made sense for Cameron to take the 153-mile trip from the Stadium of Light to Anfield to raise awareness and crucial funding for a mental health charity close to home.
Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Cameron said: "My dad was a massive football fan and he's the reason I'm interested in football - I've got the exact same mind that he did with regards to it.
"He was a massive Sunderland and Liverpool fan, and I'm a massive Liverpool fan and he would occasionally take me to Sunderland games.
"The walk is basically an idea I had on a random night. I wanted to do a long walk, and then I thought 'I want to do something for my dad'.
"One thing led to another and now it's where it is now."
Cameron will set off from the Stadium of Light on Monday 11 April, before stopping off in Escomb on the first night.
From there he will trek to Grinton, before resting again overnight and walking to Malham the next day.
On Thursday (14 April) he will then embark on the longest walk of his overall journey, setting off in sight of Preston where he will stay overnight, before making the final stretch to Anfield on Friday April 15, completing the 153 mile trip.
And he will be joined on his journey by two of his best friends, in Chloe Saxton, 17, and Kieran Blore, 18.
Cameron added: "They've both helped me out in every way they can, I didn't even have to ask them.
"They both said they'd come as soon as I told them I was doing it."
![](https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article23347387.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JRR_NEC_160222_Cameron-and-friends.jpg)
A steward at the Stadium of Light, Rosie Laws has also has offered to also participate in the cause - much to Cameron and his mother Jennie's delight.
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Jennie said: "She just randomly messaged us and told me that she wanted to join in, so now she's going too.
"We don't really know her - Cameron met her once at a Sunderland game the other night, but beyond that she just messaged us totally out of the blue and said that she wanted to join in and to support mental health too."
And knowing that Cameron and his friends and family have the full backing of their local community behind them has warmed their hearts profusely.
The Turks Head pub in Darlington, where Steven used to be a regular, has also shared the cause on their social media sites, as well as Liverpool-based pub The Arkles, which offered Cameron and his friends refreshments upon their arrival.
Jennie added: "It's nice to know that other people are supportive of what Cameron's doing.
![](https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article23347451.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Aerial-views-of-Liverpool.jpg)
"The Turks Head have been amazing, they've promoted it, they're doing football cards and raffles and things like that so they've been really, really good as well.
"Steven was a regular in the Turks Head, that's why we reached out to them to ask them if they could offer any support - and although it's under new management, and they didn't know Steven at all, they just jumped right on board and said they would do anything they could to help Cameron.
"It's really important to know that people who don't even know you will offer you support if they think it's for a worthy cause."
Cameron and his friends will also be raising money for a charity which has supported the family.
Manhealth, which was founded in 2015 by Paul Bannister through his own past struggles, are a Darlington-based mental health charity who support men in their battles with mental health.
![](https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article23347485.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JRR_NEC_160222_Steven-Dodd.jpg)
Cameron added: "The reason behind it being Manhealth is because there was another charity event back in October of 2019.
"It was for my dad and it was at the Turks Head. It supported Manhealth because that was the main one that people had chosen."
Jennie added: "It's a local charity and it supports men and we only wish that Steven had discovered them before he did what he did with it being local.
"I think with charities like Mind - they are quite out there and lots of people do support them, so to support a more local charity who do amazing work with men, and there's not enough of it out there really.
"Cameron wanted to pick a more local charity which is the one that was used for the funeral, anything raised went there and then the Turks Head did the music event for Manhealth in memory of Steven as well.
![](https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article23347610.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Teenager-walking-from-Sunderland-to-Liverpool-in-mental-health-fundraiser-after-father-takes-his-own.jpg)
"It kind of keeps the consistency of Manhealth really."
Cameron has raised £436 online for the charity so far, which goes directly to the cause - but also has sponsorship money to collect from members of the local community.
He said that the current collection standing so far is roughly around £700, but hopes to raise as much as possible through his adventure.
Those wishing to donate to Cameron's cause can do so on his official fundraising page, here.
For confidential support from volunteers, including for suicidal thoughts, Samaritans can be contacted free, on 116 123 or by email to jo@samaritans.org
In the North East, If U Care Share Foundation supports those bereaved by suicide and works towards suicide prevention.
Anyone experiencing mental health problems should also contact their GP for help.