This year’s Walk and Talk, organised by the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC), brought together professionals from across the sector in a powerful show of solidarity – raising awareness of mental health and over £15,000 for the Niall Stringer Foundation.

Held during Mental Health Awareness Week, the six-day event saw dozens of participants from every corner of the mortgage ecosystem – mainstream and specialist lenders, adviser firms, conveyancers, networks, clubs, recruiters, tech providers, and industry media – come together to walk the full 144-mile stretch of the Grand Union Canal.

Setting off from Digbeth on Sunday 11 May and concluding in London Victoria on Friday 16 May, the initiative was led by MIMHC co-founder and Crystal Specialist Finance Group Sales Director, Jason Berry (main picture, left), alongside Simplify’s Chief Business Development Officer, Dev Malle (main picture, right). The event concluded with a celebratory reception in London, sponsored by Landbay.

MORE THAN £15,000 RAISED

Originally targeting £10,000 in donations, the Walk and Talk initiative far surpassed expectations – raising more than £15,000, with donations still open until the end of June.

All funds will go directly to the Niall Stringer Foundation, a charity committed to preventing suicide among young people through education and engagement in sports communities across the UK.

Niall Stringer was a kind-hearted and passionate young rugby player who tragically took his own life shortly before his 18th birthday.

In his memory, family, coaches, and teammates founded the charity to help tackle suicide – one of the leading causes of death among under-35s in the UK – by promoting mental health awareness at grassroots level.

INCREDIBLY PROUD

Reflecting on the impact of the event, Berry said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved through this year’s Walk and Talk.

“A huge thank you to my walking partner, Dev Malle, whose support, spirit and humour were constant throughout the 144 miles.

“I’m also immensely grateful to every single person who took part or donated—we felt the strength of our mortgage community with every step.”

FANTASTIC SPONSORS

And he added: “Special thanks also go to our fantastic sponsors – Afin Bank, Crystal Specialist Finance, Landbay, Moda, Simplify and Together – whose support ensures that every penny raised can go directly to the Niall Stringer Foundation.

“This incredible charity is doing vital work to help prevent suicide among young people, and I know Niall’s legacy continues to inspire so many of us to do more, talk more, and look out for one another.

“Next year promises to be bigger and better with new routes already being proposed and huge interest from leggers who would like to join.”

The MIMHC Walk and Talk is now a flagship event on the mortgage industry’s wellbeing calendar, not only encouraging physical activity and peer connection, but continuing to drive vital conversations about mental health – one step at a time.