Caroline Flack is set to be honoured by her close pals Bradley Simmonds and Olly Murs with a trek to raise money for The Samaritans.
The group will trek 12 hours each day to tackle the iconic mountains across the Lake District, after the presenter tragically took her own life last year aged 40.
Caroline was found dead at her home on February 15 2020 after taking her own life, a day after hearing the Crown Prosecution Service would go ahead with a trial for allegedly attacking her boyfriend Lewis Burton in December 2019.
Touching: Caroline Flack is set to be honoured by her close pals Bradley Simmonds and Olly Murs (pictured with the presenter) with a trek to raise money for The Samaritans
Under the banner Climb For Caroline, the group will take on the iconic mountains across the Lake District with Caroline in their hearts and the knowledge that the money raised will help others.
Participants include Mollie Grosberg, Olly, Lou Teasdale, Bradley, and Nana Acheampong.
Speaking about the cause, Bradley said: ‘I was Caroline’s personal trainer and good friend. I was devastated at the loss and still am.
‘I know how much exercise helped Caroline with her mental health so I wanted to create a challenge where her family and friends can come together and do something powerful in her memory.
Challenging: The group will trek 12 hours each day to tackle the iconic mountains across the Lake District, after the presenter tragically took her own life last year aged 40
Touching: Speaking about the trek, Bradley said he is ‘still devastated’ by the loss of his close friend Caroline (pictured together in May 2019)
‘Hopefully this challenge will raise awareness for others to seek support whilst also raising money for Samaritans.’
Olly also shared his involvement with fans on Instagram, writing: ‘Hi guys, I’ll be taking part in #Climb4Caroline in memory of Cazza this weekend.
‘A few of us will be trekking 24 peaks in 24 hours to help raise awareness and hopefully help raise vital funds for leading suicide prevention charity @samaritanscharity. If you’d like to support click on the link in my bio!’
On Climb For Caroline, the Love Island host’s family said: ‘Thank you to everyone taking part and to those at home who are supporting us.
‘Good luck and thank you for taking the time to raise vital funds and awareness for Samaritans.’
Moving: Caroline was found dead at her home on February 15 2020 after taking her own life (pictured in November 2019)
Sarah Ball, Head of Fundraising at Samaritans added: ‘We are extremely grateful to Bradley for choosing to raise vital funds for Samaritans, which will help us be there at any time of day or night to support anyone who is struggling to cope.
‘Suicide is complex and every single death by suicide is a tragedy that devastates families, friends and communities. We wish Bradley and Caroline’s friends and family the best of luck on the hills with their fundraising challenge.’
Caroline was found dead on February 15, aged 40, the day after hearing the Crown Prosecution Service would go ahead with a trial for allegedly attacking her model and former tennis player boyfriend Lewis in December 2019.
Back in August, coroner Mary Hassell gave a verdict of suicide, saying: ‘I am entirely satisfied she intended to cause her own death. She hanged herself.
‘I find the reason for her taking her life was she now knew she was being prosecuted for certainty, and she knew she would face the media, press, publicity – it would all come down upon her. To me, that’s it in essence.’
Tragedy: Back in August, coroner Mary Hassell gave a verdict of suicide, saying: ‘I am entirely satisfied she intended to cause her own death. She hanged herself
It came after her mother, Christine, blasted a senior Met Police officer for appealing against the CPS’s decision to give her daughter a caution after her arrest despite officers finding her at the crime scene with an injury caused by self-harm.
Accusing Detective Inspector Lauren Bateman of treating her more harshly due to her celebrity status, Mrs Flack told the inquest: ‘She (Caroline) cut her arm (to cause serious injury to herself)… and you were putting an appeal in to get her prosecuted, you never bothered to see her.
‘If it had been… an ordinary person, you wouldn’t have prosecuted. I see domestic abuse and I just think you should be disgusted with yourself so there is nothing we can do to bring Caroline back.
‘I hope in hindsight you do regret this. This girl killed herself because you put an appeal through.’
The ‘appeal’ referenced an initial decision by prosecutors to issue Flack with a caution, before DI Bateman, the senior Met officer in charge when the celebrity was taken into custody, applied for a formal charge instead. The final decision would have been made by a senior lawyer.
For help call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Upsetting: Following her death, a slew of stars and pals flooded social media with tributes