Alan Shearer has surprised an 'incredible' Northumberland man to thank him for his determination in fundraising for his foundation. Keith Dungait, from Morpeth, was told he would never walk again after a serious spinal cord injury left him paralysed, but he has worked hard to regain his mobility.
A Remarkable Recovery Journey
In July 2018, the now 50-year-old Keith jumped into a swimming pool while on a stag do in Majorca, hitting his head on the bottom. He has battled through years of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, gradually making him able to take steps independently with the support of a frame.
Keith progressed to walking the length of parallel bars using his arms as support in 2020, and using just one arm by March 2021. He has dealt with challenges like significant back pain along the way, but this hasn't stopped him from achieving his goal.
The Move a Mile Challenge
Keith was determined to get involved when he heard about the 'Move a Mile' challenge for the Alan Shearer Foundation, and set himself the target of walking 2,775 steps, the equivalent of one mile based on his stride length. He initially managed around 50 steps a day, working towards the goal, and managing to complete the challenge.
Moved by Keith's journey of resilience, the Newcastle United and England legend decided to pay a personal visit to the family's Northumberland home, meeting Keith, his wife Christina, and his sons Macaulay and Ronnie, and personally thanking him for his effort and commitment.
A Personal Thank You
As part of the visit on Friday, Alan and Keith took a few steps together, before Keith presented the NUFC hero with a cheque for £2,775 towards the foundation's fundraising target. This will help to support its £1 million appeal to build a second hydrotherapy pool at the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle, helping more children and adults with complex disabilities access vital support.
Speaking during the visit, Alan Shearer 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.
"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."
Keith's Determination Continues
Keith, who is determined to keep supporting the cause, added: "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.
"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 Alan Shearer Foundation launched its Move a Mile challenge in August, with hopes that the campaign will reach 52,719 miles, one for every seat inside St James' Park. The Alan Shearer Centre supports over 10,000 members across the region, and a second hydrotherapy pool is needed to 'meet demand'.
