Local Freemason to take on 200-mile Charity Challenge
Brother Guy Smith, currently Worshioful Master of Oriental Lodge Number 9371, which meets at Byker Masonic Hall, is taking on 200-mile run for charity in memory of a mother lost to Alzheimer’s.
Guy is set to visit every Masonic Temple in Northumberland as part of the journey, raising funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
He says: "I’ve mapped it at around 197 miles, but with fatigue, navigation challenges, and the inevitable detours, it will break the 200-mile mark.
"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."
A seasoned ultramarathon runner, Guy will set off from Berwick Masonic Hall on Monday, September 2, immediately after attending a lodge meeting.
He will travel down the Northumberland coast, through North Tyneside and the Tyne Valley, before finishing in Haltwhistle.
His long-distance running began more than 20 years ago when he completed the Great North Run to raise funds for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund in memory of a friend.
Since then, he has completed numerous marathons and ultramarathons, including the 100-mile Castle-to-Castle race from Bamburgh to Edinburgh.
This latest challenge is especially personal.
In January, he lost his mother to Alzheimer’s, a disease affecting nearly one million people in the UK.
He said: "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.
"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."
He aims to complete the route in just four days, then plans on joining thousands of others in the Great North Run the following day.
Guy said: "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."
Temple Run Update
W. Bro Guy Smith is now on route to Seaton Delaval Masonic Hall, marking another milestone in his incredible 200-mile Temple Run challenge.
Having already visited halls in Berwick, Seahouses, Alnwick, Amble, Newbiggin, Ashington, Morpeth, Bedlington, Blyth and Cramlington, Guy continues to push forward with unstoppable determination.
Let’s keep cheering him on as he heads south towards the next set of halls — every mile he runs supports the Alzheimer’s Society.
