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Man completes 128 marathons in brother's memory

BBC Leodhais Maherson smiling at the camera and making a thumbs-up gesture after arriving in Tynemouth. He has short brown hair and is wearing a black t-shirt with a picture of the Tyne Bridge and the words Newcastle to New York 2025. He is standing on a grassy area with the sea behind him.BBC
Leodhais Maherson gave a thumbs-up gesture after completing his epic challenge

A man who lost his brother to suicide has completed running a marathon a day for 128 days in his memory.

Leodhais Maherson, from Tynemouth, North Tyneside, wanted to cover the equivalent of the distance between North Shields and New York, in the United States, where his older brother Conor, who died aged 21 in 2018, wanted to live.

The 3,332-mile (5,362km) challenge started at the end of January and finished in his home town on Monday - the day Conor would have turned 28.

Mr Maherson, 24, who also popped the question to his girlfriend Jaimie Walker on the finishing line and was accepted, said he hoped the £60,000 he had raised for charities would make "a massive difference".

Mr Maherson, who carried out the challenge alongside his day job, said: "It's incredible. I've dreamed about it for so long and focused on it, but I've also tried to take a day at a time.

"It's such a sigh of relief [to have completed the challenge].

"I never really had a doubt in my mind, but I definitely woke up some mornings wondering how I'd get though it.

"To see so many people giving me , it's amazing.

"I've managed to open up and share my story about losing my brother to suicide. I think in doing that, I've given other people the platform to do the same."

Money will 'save lives'

His initial aim had been to raise £10,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the mental health charity If U Care Share.

"I don't think I can quite comprehend the difference it will make yet," he added. "It's a huge amount of money. More than I could've dreamed of.

"It's going to save lives so it's pretty special."

Leodhais Maherson proposed to his girlfriend, Jaimie Walker. He is sitting down and holding a box containing a ring in his right hand. His girlfriend is smiling. She is standing and has long dark hair. She is wearing a grey jumper and pale blue jeans with white trainers.
Mr Maherson popped the question after finishing his final run

Asked what he planned to do now his running challenge was completed, he replied: "I'll put my feet up.

"I'm going on holiday on Thursday and I'll relax, get back to normal and try to be healthy and happy."

Matthew Smith, founder of County Durham charity If U Care Share, ran the final leg and across the finish line with Mr Maherson on Monday.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It was an honour to share a small part in what he has done.

"To see so many people come out for him shows what impact he is going to have."

If you have been affected by the issues raised you can visit the BBC's Action Line pages.

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