Parents to Run Yorkshire 10 Mile in Memory of Son

There will be plenty of emotion on the start line of the Altra Yorkshire 10 mile on Sunday 19th October, but perhaps none more so than for Hellmuth and Desmarie Weich, who will be taking part together for the first time in memory of their son.

Desmond Weich took his own life while studying at the University of Leeds in 2022 after suffering mental health issues during the COVID pandemic. Since then, his brave family have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

Hellmuth says, “Suicide is the major cause of death for men below the age of 45, and so many people are unaware of this. The impact of a bereavement is not felt by just family and friends, but on a far wider scale, particularly within school and university environments.”

Hellmuth and Desmarie will be joined by a group of former Leeds University students and their families to raise money for the CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), and they will be easy to spot in their yellow vests as they weave their way through the picturesque streets of York.

The couple, reflecting on their loss, said, “When Desmond committed suicide, we became members of a club that we never knew existed. It’s there but nobody wants to admit their membership. Taking part in the run is an opportunity to give something back to charity and help others.”

To support Hellmuth, Desmarie and the running group in their fundraising efforts for CALM, visit: