MIMHC Walk and Talk 2025 raises more than £15k for charity
28 May 2025
- This year’s walkers will raise over £15,000 for the Niall Stringer Foundation
- 144 miles completed by c.50 people who all operate in the mortgage sector
- Further donations welcome until midnight on Friday June 30th
This year’s Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) Walk and Talk brought together dozens of people from across the mortgage community. The participants truly demonstrated the diverse nature of the sector with representation evident from mainstream and specialist lenders, adviser firms and individuals, mortgage clubs, mortgage networks, conveyancers, specialist recruiters, journalists and technology providers. Between them they covered 144 miles in six days, raising awareness of mental health issues, while at the same time raising more than £15,000 for the Niall Stringer Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide among young people. The total funds raised well exceeded the initial target of £10,000, but more funds are always welcome for this worthy cause, and anyone can donate here until the end of June.
Niall Stringer was a caring young man and a keen rugby player, who sadly took his own life shortly before his 18th birthday. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among the under-35s in the UK, and every loss of young life is of course a tragedy. Niall’s family, coach and teammates set up the Niall Stringer Foundation to promote awareness of mental health and wellbeing through sports clubs at all levels across the country, and help them contribute to the prevention of youth suicide.
The Walk and Talk event, which took place during Mental Health Awareness Week, was spearheaded by Jason Berry, co-founder of the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC), Group Sales Director at Crystal Specialist Finance and Dev Malle, Chief Business Development Officer at Simplify. The journey covered the entire length of the Grand Union Canal, starting in Digbeth, on Sunday 11th May, and ending in London Victoria on Friday 16th May at a celebratory reception sponsored by Landbay.
The aim of this annual event is to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations about mental health and wellbeing in the mortgage sector, encouraging open discussions while embracing the benefits of exercise and social connection.
Jason Berry commented:
“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.
“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.”
About CRYSTAL SPECIALIST FINANCE and MIMHC
Crystal Specialist Finance is a mortgage distributor and master broker, working with and for other brokers in the market to find the simplest possible solutions for even the most complex cases. Established in 2000, Crystal focuses on complex bridging, specialist residential and buy to let, second charge loans, development finance and commercial lending.
Crystal has access to a comprehensive lending panel with products to suit the broadest range of complex borrower needs.
The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) was established in 2021 to unite individuals and organisations across the mortgage sector in a shared commitment to improving mental health awareness, support and wellbeing. It promotes open conversations, challenges stigma and provides tools and guidance to help employers and employees prioritise mental health in the workplace. Through initiatives like the annual Walk and Talk, regular events and industry-wide engagement, MIMHC continues to build a more compassionate and resilient mortgage community where it’s safe to say: “I’m not okay”.
