Former Northumbria Police officer John Loriane, from Melton Park, Gosforth, is running the Great North Run this September in full police kit to raise awareness of mental health struggles. His ultimate challenge is 170 miles through endurance events throughout the year, raising £1,000 for Climbing Out, Samaritans, Macmillan, and The Art of War Foundation.
A 17-Year Career Takes Its Toll
After 17 years with Northumbria Police, John carried the mental weight of his job quietly. Over time, the strain built and significantly impacted his mental health. Although brilliant at being there for others, he became bad at recognising when he needed help. After a turbulent year, he was introduced to the charity Climbing Out last year, which helped him recognise his trauma and rebuild.
John said: “Looking back, I think a lot of that started long before policing. My parents separated when I was young, and like many kids, I developed coping mechanisms that followed me into adulthood. I became a people pleaser.”
Turning Point with Climbing Out
Climbing Out combines outdoor activities with introspective tools. It holds around six core programmes a year – fully funded five-day residential programmes providing participants tools to take back control of their mindset and actions. The ethos is not to fix people but to give them confidence, motivation, and tools to recognise themselves as the person they are.
John took part in the November 2025 programme in the Lake District. He said: “The core programme became a turning point in my life. For the first time in a very long time, I felt seen, not as a police officer, not as a problem solver, not as the one holding everything together, but simply as me.”
170 Miles of Endurance Challenges
Since completing the core programme, John became more self-aware, emotionally honest, and kinder to himself. He signed up for 170 miles of endurance challenges starting with his Level 2 Isle of Arran Expedition in May 2025. The Level 2 programme is held once a year for selected core programme attendees, involving a 124km walk around the Isle of Arran with wild camping.
John said: “Where the core programme helped me survive, Level 2 helped me grow. Level 2 cracked me open in the best possible way. It challenged me physically, mentally, and emotionally but also gave me something I hadn’t felt in years – genuine self-belief.”
The events include: the Isle of Arran (personal growth), the Great North 10K with a weighted vest (unseen burden), the Macmillan Mighty Hike (illness and adversity), the Great North Run in full police kit (end of 17-year career), PARAS’10 (military personnel), and the Longmynd 52 (recovery is not a sprint). So far, John has completed 76 miles of his 170 target.
Running for Others
John, now a trainee train driver for Nexus, re-joined as a Volunteer Special Constable to run in full police kit. He hopes other emergency service or military personnel will run alongside him to show that mental health should be shared.
John said: “The challenge isn’t about how far I can run. It’s about showing people they don’t have to carry their struggles alone.”
Climbing Out was founded in 2010 by Kelda Wood after a leg injury derailed her sporting career. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, changing her mindset about what she could do. Kelda said: “John was part of a brilliant team that showed grit, determination, courage, and teamwork on our 2026 Level 2 programme. We are immensely proud of John for continuing that momentum with this epic challenge.”
