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LEODHAIS MACPHERSON WILL COMPLETE THE FINAL STRETCH OF HIS 3,332 MILE CHALLENGE - THE EQUIVALENT DISTANCE OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE TO NEW YORK - ON JUNE 2 19:43, 29 May 2025 It has been 124
days since Leodhais Macpherson committed to running a daily marathon in memory of his brother until he 'reached New York'. And with just four days left until he completes his
mammoth challenge, the 24-year-old, from North Shields, is inviting people to come along and support his final run. Leodhais will complete the final stretch of his 3,332 mile challenge - the
equivalent distance of Newcastle upon Tyne to New York - on June 2. He expects to reach the finish line at Tynemouth Priory at 5.30pm, where his supporters will congratulate him. But while
the day will undoubtedly be filled with pride, having raised almost £50,000 for charity so far, it will also be a day to remember his brother Conor on what would have been 28th his birthday.
In 2018, at the age of 21, Conor took his own life. Tynemouth RNLI lifeboats were called to a person who had entered the water, but after more than four hours of searching with three
lifeboats, two helicopters and land based Coastguard teams, Conor's body was never recovered. Paying tribute to his brother, Leodhais said: "We were quite opposite really. While
I've always not been able to sit still and need constant entertainment as a child, he could keep himself entertained. He enjoyed reading books and wrote his own book (which was never
published). He was a lot more intelligent than me. He was a very caring and gentle person. I think he'd be pretty proud of what I've achieved so far." OUR CHRONICLELIVE DAILY
NEWSLETTER IS FREE. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. IT WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND TOP STORIES FROM THE NORTH EAST. The environmental co-ordinator for
EDF Energy, previously told ChronicleLive that he had always wanted to do something in memory of his brother, and that the marathon idea started to take shape in September last year. Conor
loved New York and aspired to live there, having already visited seven times. This inspired Leodhais to start the 'Newcastle to New York' challenge. Leodhais said: "The final
day is going to be a mix of emotions. Because it's my brother's birthday it's always going to be a difficult day. But there will also be a huge sense of achievement and a huge
sigh of relief too, knowing that I've done what I set out to do. I think crossing that finish line with all my friends and family there will definitely be emotional. "I'll be
proud that I've raised a lot of money and started conversations about suicide and mental health." Reflecting on the challenge so far, Leodhais added: "The first four weeks
were probably the hardest in terms of my body getting used to it but I don't think there's been a section where I've found it easy, or a run where I've thought that was
easy. "It definitely got better in terms of pain - the first four weeks were pretty sore - but the last two or three weeks have been just as difficult. Your body knows when it's
getting close to the end and I've definitely felt that the past couple of weeks." The money raised from Leodhais's challenge will go towards two charities, the RNLI, and If U
Care Share, who supported the Macpherson family following Conor's death. He added that If U Care Share have informed him that the money he has raised so far will help fund support
worker in the community for almost 18 months. Article continues below Leodhais said: "I think nowadays you would struggle to not know someone who has struggled with their mental health
or been affected by sucide." He added: It's pretty special to know that there will be people directly impacted by the money that's been raised." For more information on
Leodhais's fundraising efforts, visit the JUSTGIVING PAGE HERE.