Members of a Whitby family are channeling grief into community action after the death of 27‑year‑old local man Kade Purvis, organising a sponsored walk from Scarborough to Whitby to raise money for young men’s mental‑health support.
Walk honours final wish, family says
The walk, planned for 1 August, follows Purvis’s death earlier this year. Up to 100 people are expected to take part in the charity event, which organisers say was Purvis’s final wish. The family hopes the event will raise £1,000 to provide mentoring support for four young men through the charity The Mental Shift.
Purvis’s sister, Megan Ahmed, 25, said her brother had initially planned to join the walk himself. In interviews with national outlets, the family described him as "kind‑hearted and gentle" and said he wanted to give back despite feeling he could never run a marathon.
"It was his final wish for us to organise this walk."
Family emphasises speaking up and better support
Ahmed said Purvis had sought help for his mental health but became frustrated with the system. The family is using the fundraiser to press for improved support and to offer direct assistance to young men who may be struggling.
Ahmed told reporters the sponsored walk has helped the family "channel all of this hurt and this grief into something positive" and to "fight for that change he can no longer do." She urged anyone struggling to reach out for help or to ask someone to advocate on their behalf.
Local community response and memorial
Support from the Whitby area has been visible since Purvis’s death. Whitby Town FC — the club Purvis supported — announced a memorial seat at the ground marked A27 bearing the message "Kade - Forever 27". The family said that local encouragement has been "incredible" as they prepare the walk and other fundraising activities, which have included marathons and sponsored events undertaken by relatives.
- Event: Scarborough to Whitby sponsored walk
- Date: 1 August
- Participants expected: up to 100
- Fundraising target: £1,000 for mentoring support for four young men
| Item | Detail |
| Honouree | Kade Purvis, age 27 |
| Charity | The Mental Shift |
| Memorial | Whitby Town FC seat A27, "Kade - Forever 27" |
The Mental Shift is a charity focused on young men’s mental health. It had contacted the family after another relative, the family say, also took his own life last year; since then relatives have raised funds and awareness through running events and other activities.
Local implications
For Whitby residents, the walk is both a memorial and a reminder of gaps that families and supporters say exist in mental‑health pathways for young men. The family’s experience — seeking help and encountering obstacles — mirrors reporting and testimony seen across the country, where young men often face barriers to accessing timely, tailored mental‑health care.
Organisers say the walk will do more than raise funds: it aims to bring people together, create a visible show of support and encourage men to speak about their struggles. In a town where local clubs and community groups play a large role in social life, that message may resonate widely.
If you or someone you know is affected by the issues raised in this story, help and support information was published alongside the original report; people in crisis should contact local emergency services or dedicated mental‑health helplines.
The family and The Mental Shift have invited the community to join the walk or contribute to the fundraising target, saying the event is a way to honour Purvis’s wish to help others and to keep conversations about mental health alive in Whitby.
