A Selby businessman and a friend are to compete in this weekend’s Great North run with half a freezer strapped on each of their backs.

Craig Allen and Neil Rawlinson are undertaking the cool tribute to remember Craig’s best friend Joshua Van Leader, who committed suicide back in November 2022.

For a couple of years Craig had been thinking how best to celebrate his best friends short but incredible life, keeping his memory alive whilst raising invaluable funds for AndysManClub.

The club is a men’s suicide prevention charity, which seeks to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health via free-to-attend, peer-to-peer support groups.

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Craig is the founder of Gold Standard Nutrition, a Selby company which makes protein-rich frozen ready meals.

He says the idea of cutting a freezer in two and strapping it to their backs is their backs as their unique way to symbolise ‘stronger together.’

The pair estimate each half of the freezer will weigh around 15-kilos.

Craig continued: “To the outsider Josh always exuded a positive vibe as the funniest man in the room, but behind that veneer darker thoughts were at work. 

"Unfortunately, Josh is not around today however this poignant last message which no doubt resonates with thousands as a timely reminder to not only lookout for one’s friends but to talk more and not keep dark thoughts locked away.

 “‘I forgot who I was once, I thought that maybe I am a man not worth knowing, that was finished and should be forgotten about.  I simply wasn’t relevant any more.  But then I remembered that I have a story worth telling and a man with a story worth telling is always a man worth knowing.’”   

To date, £514 has been raised towards a £5000 target.

The AJ Bell Great North Run takes place on Sunday September 8 featuring around 60,000 runners taking on a 13.1 mile route from Newcastle to South Sheilds.

To donate, go to: https://shorturl.at/MuEEX