John Loraine, a Metro driver and former police officer, has completed six extreme physical endurance challenges, raising money for a mental health charity he credits with saving his life. The 37-year-old from Gosforth in Newcastle set himself a target of covering 170 miles across the six events, and his fundraising so far stands at almost £2,000.
Before leaving Northumbria Police, where he worked for 17 years, Loraine was referred to Climbing Out, an outreach service that supports adults following life-changing injuries, illness or trauma. He has been supporting the charity through his fundraising efforts.
Six gruelling challenges
The challenges included a 76-mile expedition on the Isle of Arran carrying his own kit, the Great North 10K in a 5kg vest, the MacMillan Mighty Hike (a 13.1-mile walk in a 15kg vest), the Great North Run in full police uniform, the Para's 10 Tab (a ten-mile trek with a 16kg military bergen), and the Long Mynd Hike, a 50-mile trek in the hills of Shropshire.
Loraine said he was emotional at the finish, adding: "My body has taken a hammering, but I've loved every single minute of it." He said he was touched by the support he received, which encouraged people to open up about their own mental health issues.
Two miles short
At the end of his final challenge, Loraine calculated that he had fallen just two miles short of his target. He plans to make up the shortfall with one final event, a walk or run along the North Tyneside coast in the last weekend of October.
He said: "I've got two miles left and that will be done here, probably up at the coast. I'm going to ask people who have supported me to come along and do this with me."
Loraine described the challenges as physically demanding, noting that the final four events took place within four weeks. He said he endured ticks, blisters, chafing, bruises, tendon problems, and minor sprains and burns from carrying the weight on his back.
The money raised will support three charities: Climbing Out, Samaritans and Macmillan Cancer Support, with an agreed amount allocated to each.
