Shearer hails fundraiser's remarkable mile

A Northumberland father who was told he might never walk again following a life-changing spinal injury has received a special visit from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer after completing a remarkable fundraising challenge.

Keith Dungait, 50, a father of two from Morpeth, walked the equivalent of a mile using a Zimmer frame, eight years after an accident left him paralysed from the waist down.

His achievement, which involved taking 2775 steps over an extended period, raised £2775 for the Alan Shearer Foundation’s Million Pound Mission, an appeal to build a second hydrotherapy pool at its specialist centre in Newcastle.

Moved by Keith’s determination, the former Newcastle United and England captain visited Keith at his home in Morpeth to personally thank him for his efforts.

During the visit, the pair took a few steps together before Keith presented Alan with a cheque for the money raised.

Alan said: “When I first heard about Keith and what he’d been doing for the Foundation, I was absolutely blown away.

“To go through what he has and then take on a challenge like this to help other people is just incredible.

“Move a Mile was always about showing that anyone can get involved, no matter their ability or circumstances, and I don’t think there’s a better example of that than Keith.

“I wanted to come and meet him personally, thank him for everything he’s done and let him know just how much his support means to us.”

Keith’s journey began in July 2018 when he suffered a serious spinal cord injury while on holiday in Majorca.

After diving into a swimming pool and striking his head on the bottom, he was left paralysed from the waist down, with doctors warning that he might never walk again.

Determined to regain as much mobility as possible, Keith embarked on years of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, gradually rebuilding his strength and learning to take steps with support.

After two years of intensive rehabilitation, he had progressed to walking the length of parallel bars using his arms for support.

Then, in March 2021, 997 days after his accident, he achieved another milestone by taking a step using just one arm for support.

Despite ongoing back pain and considerable physical challenges, Keith continued working towards greater independence.

When the Alan Shearer Foundation launched its Move a Mile fundraising challenge in August, he saw an opportunity to put his progress towards helping others.

Using his own stride length to calculate the distance, Keith set himself the target of completing 2775 steps, equivalent to one mile.

Initially managing around 50 steps a day with his Zimmer frame, he gradually worked towards the total, eventually completing the challenge and raising thousands of pounds for the Foundation.

Keith said: “After my accident, I was told I might never walk again, so to be able to say I’ve now walked a mile is something I’m really proud of.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work to get here, and some days are much harder than others, but I’ve always been determined to keep going and see what I can achieve.

“When I saw the Move a Mile challenge, I thought it was something I could get involved in, even if it meant doing it a little differently.

“I knew it would take me a while, but I wanted to give it a go and hopefully raise some money for a brilliant cause along the way.”

Keith added: “To have Alan come and visit me and thank me personally means so much.

“I never expected anything like this when I started, and I’m just pleased that my efforts can help other people and families who need that support.”

The Move a Mile challenge was launched in August as part of the Foundation’s Million Pound Mission, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to walk, run, cycle or move a mile in whatever way they can.

Participants are invited to make a donation and encourage others to take part, with the campaign aiming to collectively cover 52,719 miles, representing every seat at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park.

The wider Million Pound Mission, launched in April 2026, aims to raise £1 million towards a second hydrotherapy pool at the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle.

Supporting more than 10,000 members and their families across the North East, the centre provides specialist facilities and activities for children and adults with complex disabilities.

However, increasing demand has placed pressure on its existing hydrotherapy pool, limiting access to sessions for some families.

A second pool would increase capacity, reduce waiting times and allow more people to benefit from hydrotherapy and the support available at the centre.

Alan added: “Every pound raised brings us closer to building a second hydrotherapy pool at the Centre and helping even more families across the North East.

“People like Keith are making a real difference, and I’m incredibly grateful.”

To find out more about Move a Mile, take part in the challenge or donate, click here.

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