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Man walking 1,400 miles with fridge on his back

Naj Modak
BBC News
Reporting fromTeesside
BBC Tom Judge standing next to his fridge which is on top of a round table in front of the Stray Cafe.BBC
Tom Judge wants to raise awareness of mental health issues through his fridge challenge

A man is walking 1,400 miles (2,253km) with a fridge on his back to raise awareness of mental health issues.

Thomas Judge from Ingleby Barwick, in Stockton, also wants to raise £200,000 for his charity on the trek from Middlesbrough to Benidorm with the 45 kilogram white good strapped to his back.

Mr Judge said he had been inspired to take on the challenge, which will take place on 30 August, after meeting a mother whose son had taken his life.

He said he wanted to raise awareness of the "pain and suffering" of people with health struggles.

BBC / Naj Modak Stacey Baldam who long wavy, blonde, black and brown hair is standing next to a fridge - which has stickers on it saying One man and his fridge.BBC / Naj Modak
Mr Judge said he was inspired after meeting Stacey Baldam, whose son took his own life

The 61-year-old founder of First Contact UK Mental Health said the fridge was a symbol of the pain and suffering that people with mental health issues go through.

He set up the organisation after living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Dissociation Disorder.

He said he wanted do the fridge challenge after meeting Stacey Baldam who lost her son Cameron to suicide in April 2024.

BBC / Naj Modak Tom Judge adjusting his straps that he will fasten to the fridge which is to the right of the picture. He is standing on a patch of grass and there is a cafe in the background. BBC / Naj Modak
Mr Judge adjusting the straps that will fasten the fridge to his back

Ms Baldam said she set up the Cameron Laidlaw Foundation in memory of her son and "to stop and prevent what we've gone through as a family" happening to others.

She added: "Unfortunately Cameron was misunderstood, his voice was never heard."

Tom Judge standing with Stacey Baldam and two other members of the team with the fridge in the middle.
Mr Judge said the support he has received has been "incredible"

Mr Judge said the support he had received had been "incredible".

He also said it was his hope that promoting good mental health would be on the curriculum at "every level in every school to save the next generation".

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