Hexham is home for new UK charity and counselling practice; the story behind the Ryan Castle Foundation and Riverstone Counselling.
A new charity and counselling practice based in Hexham, are continuing the legacy of a young local man whose determination to help others inspired those around him.
The Ryan Castle Foundation has been established by Hexham resident Lorraine Whitfield in memory of her son, Ryan, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2019 at the age of 20. Despite his devastating diagnosis, Ryan dedicated much of his time to supporting others, sharing his experiences through a blog and working alongside charities to raise awareness and offer hope to people facing similar challenges.
Ryan sadly died in 2021, aged just 22. Before his death, Lorraine promised she would continue the work that meant so much to him.
Today, that promise lives on through the Ryan Castle Foundation, which provides free counselling to adults aged 18-40 who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, as well as their loved ones. The charity aims to ensure that no one faces the emotional impact of terminal illness alone, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Lorraine, an experienced counsellor who also works with the mental health charity Mind, understands the profound emotional impact that serious illness, grief and uncertainty can have on individuals and families. Through the foundation, she provides professional counselling support alongside a team of dedicated volunteer counsellors who share the charity’s vision of ensuring that nobody faces these challenges alone.
Alongside the charity, Lorraine has also launched Riverstone Counselling, her private practice based at Hexham Train Station.
Riverstone offers support for a wide range of emotional and mental health concerns, with Lorraine bringing particular experience and passion to working with trauma, bereavement and illness. Alongside counselling, Riverstone offers wellbeing therapies to promote self-care and relaxation; Reflexology, Indian head massage, hand and arm massage, and foot and lower leg massage.
For Lorraine, both the charity and Riverstone Counselling are rooted in the same belief: that everyone deserves a safe, compassionate space to be heard, especially during life’s most difficult moments.
As the Ryan Castle Foundation takes its first steps, Lorraine hopes people will help spread the word so that those who need support can find it. She also hopes members of the public will consider supporting the charity through donations, helping it reach more people and continue Ryan’s legacy of kindness and care.
What began as one young man’s determination to help others in the face of unimaginable circumstances has become something that continues to touch lives today. Through the Ryan Castle Foundation, Ryan’s spirit of compassion lives on, offering support, understanding and hope, right from the heart of Hexham.
For more information, please visit:
riverstone-counselling.co.uk
ryancastle.co.uk