A Northumberland Freemason and seasoned ultramarathon runner, Guy Smith of Gosforth, is preparing for his toughest challenge yet – running 200 miles to every Masonic Temple across the Province of Northumberland – to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK and he’s doing it in just four days!
Guy, well-known among his peers for combining his love of Freemasonry with endurance running, will set off on Monday 2nd September from Berwick Masonic Hall immediately after attending a lodge meeting there. Dressed in his running kit, he will begin a four-day journey visiting each temple in turn, following a zig-zag route down the Northumberland coast, through North Tyneside, along the Tyne Valley, and finally finishing at Haltwhistle.
“I’ve mapped it at around 197 miles, but with fatigue, navigation challenges, and the inevitable detours, it will break the 200-mile mark,” said Guy.
“I’ll be running through day and night, grabbing power naps where I can. It’s going to be tough, but I know why I’m doing it.”
Guy’s inspiration for running stems back over 20 years, when he first completed the Great North Run to raise money for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund after a friend’s tragic loss. Since then, he has completed multiple marathons and ultramarathons, including the 100-mile Castle-to-Castle race from Bamburgh to Edinburgh, often battling wind, rain, and exhaustion but always determined to push through.
This year, however, his mission has a deeply personal motivation. In January, Guy lost his mother to Alzheimer’s, a disease that affects nearly one million people in the UK.
“Mum touched so many lives and losing her so quickly to Alzheimer’s was devastating. Anyone who has witnessed it knows how cruel it is,” said Guy.
“That’s why I’ve chosen Alzheimer’s Research UK as the beneficiary of this challenge. My fundraising target is £3,000, and I’ve already raised nearly £5,000.”
Guy hopes to complete the route in just four days – a feat that will push his physical and mental endurance to the absolute limit – before rounding off the challenge by joining thousands of runners at the Great North Run the very next day.
“It might sound mad, but running has given me purpose, better health, and a way to give back. This is about honouring Mum, raising awareness, and hopefully inspiring others to push themselves for a cause they care about.”
Freemasons buildings in the Province of Northumberland can be found in:
Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Bellingham, Berwick, Blyth, Byker, Cramlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Mickley, Morpeth, Newbiggin, Jesmond, Newcastle, North Shields, Seahouses, Seaton Delaval, Shiremoor, Throckley, Wallsend, Whitley Bay and Wylam.
To sponsor Guy – www.gofundme.com/f/the-temple-run
