Founding member of Tyne Bridge Harriers, Kenny Macpherson, tells us about his family’s close connection to running and why the tragic death of his son, Conor, has inspired Leodhais, his other son, to take on a run of epic endeavor.
I don’t know how and I don’t know why but us Macphersons have always been able to run, to put one foot in front of the other and compete. There is a story of a bare footed Robertson from Breakish on the Isle of Skye, a relation, who competed at the Portree Highland Games and won all the races on the day. These days my cousin Ally K Macpherson, in Inverness, does ultra runs for fun and raises so much for charity, running the length and breadth of the country. It’s fair to say running is in the Macpherson genes.
Leodhais Macpherson, my son, was 11 years old when he did his first park run, 22.04, on Town Moor and he promptly fell asleep on the short journey back home. Fast forward 13 years and a couple of weeks ago, Leodhais, a founding member of Tyne Bridge Harriers and also the first junior runner, told me he was going to run a marathon a day until June the 2nd, his brother Conor’s birthday.
Initially I was against it but, as a parent, you have to try and support and today we did 26.22 miles in slightly over 4 hours.

Now this leads me to explain the reason for this monumental challenge: my son, his brother, Conor Macpherson. When Conor was at Marden High School in North Shields he came home crestfallen and dejected having come last in the school cross country. I told him if he got into the school cross country team I would buy him a computer game of his choice. I bought him a pair of cross country spikes and the next school trial he came 6th.
In the final race he went from last to 3rd, galvanised by the promise of a new computer game. Unfortunately due to inclement weather his inter schools race got cancelled. He lost all appetite for running and that was to be his last race.
Conor died aged 21 by taking his own life in November 2018 and now we live in what I call a “new normal”.

Leodhais has committed to run a marathon a day for 128 days to raise money in Conor’s memory. Today we ran the first ”off the belt” in just over 4 hours. Some days he will do it in bite sized chunks, an accumulated marathon in 24 hours, by running, walking, crawling maybe, over three or even four sessions, but a marathon none the less.
Leodhais is trying to raise as much money as possible for two charities, the RNLI and “If U Care Share” a North East charity set up for the prevention, training Intervention and support of those affected by suicide. You can donate by clicking the images below.

You can read more about Leodhais’s challenge, why he’s chosen 3,332 miles and how to donate to this epic challenge here. All of Tyne Bridge Harriers are hugely proud and wish Leodhais the very best.
One response
An amazing challenge and a wonderful way to honour such a special person in your lives. Well done all and I’m sure the donations will be coming in thick and fast 💚