After a year marked by the loss of both his son and his father, Gateshead' s Jimmy Gibson has taken on a gruelling running challenge to raise money for mental health and cancer charities.
Jimmy, 53, lost son Lee last year aged just 30. He had struggled with his mental health. His dad Lesley died due to cancer in March 2022. With the support of friends Paddy Lishman, Smokie Drummond, Rob Bell, Stephen Bartley and Graham Alderson - all of whom grew up near the Chandless Estate in Gateshead - Jimmy took on the infamous Goggins Challenge around Tyneside over August 26 and 27.
Speaking to ChronicleLive, Jimmy said the team was "shattered but overwhelmed" by the support they had received. "We've been based at a friend's Airbnb near the Staiths in Dunston, so we've started a few of the runs from there. It's been amazing."
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The challenge, popularised by an ex-Navy SEAL David Goggins in the US, sees participants take on twelve consecutive four mile runs every four hours for two days. This means sleep is at a premium.
Jimmy, a former Royal Marines commando, said: "We only set out to raise about £500, but it's gone berserk. Me and my cousin Graham are both ex-Marines and we've had loads of Royal Marines coming out to support us, too. I lost my son to mental health and we also lost my dad to cancer. "
He said the support had been amazing as they completed run after run. Most had been in the Newcastle and Gateshead area - including an overnight run through the city centre - but the runners also took in the North Shields Fish Quay and North Tyneside on one of their efforts. Their final run ended at the Schooner pub in Gateshead, where friends and family celebrated their epic achievement at around 9pm on Saturday.
The support of his fellow runners had been vital as Jimmy has dealt with his grief over the past year, and the tight-knit group have so far raised more than £4,000 for charities Daft as a Brush - which provides transport for cancer patients to get to hospital - and Mind.
"We have chosen the two charities because of the support they give," Jimmy added. "And we are inspired by both my son and my dad."
The men took on the penultimate run - ending at the Millennium Bridge - wearing shirts showing both Lee and Lesley - and carried a picture of Lee. Jimmy and his family have spoken about how the challenge shows "how good people can support a grieving friend and also promotes how strength even in your worst hour can help give back to the community".
Find the team's Crowdfunding page here.
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