Alan Shearer has been to visit Keith Dungait, who completed 2,775 steps despite being told he may never walk again, in the process raising thousands for the Alan Shearer Foundation’s Million Pound Mission.
Now aged 50, Keith Dungait from Morpeth has spent years working to regain his mobility following a serious spinal cord injury in 2018, when he dived into a swimming pool while on holiday in Majorca and hit his head on the bottom.
Despite doctors fearing he would never walk again, Keith has continued to push himself through years of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, gradually rebuilding his strength and ability to take steps with support.
When he heard about the Alan Shearer Foundation ‘Move a Mile’ fundraising challenge, Keith was determined to get involved, setting himself a target of walking 2,775 steps, the equivalent of one mile based on his own stride length.
Using his Zimmer frame, and initially managing around 50 steps a day, Keith gradually worked towards his goal, completing the full mile and raising thousands of pounds for the Foundation’s Million Pound Mission appeal.
Moved by Keith’s story and determination, Alan visited him at his home in Morpeth to personally thank him for his incredible efforts and commitment to supporting the Foundation.
During the visit, Alan joined Keith in taking a few steps together, before Keith presented him with a cheque for £2,775 towards the Foundation’s fundraising appeal.
Photo: Alan Shearer Foundation
The money will support the Foundation’s ambitious £1 million appeal to build a second hydrotherapy pool at the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle, helping more children and adults with complex disabilities access vital therapies and support.
Keith’s journey began in July 2018 when his accident left him facing the possibility that he would never walk again. After two years of intensive rehabilitation, he had progressed to walking the length of parallel bars, using his arms for support. In March 2021, 997 days after his accident, he reached a major milestone when he managed to take a step using just one arm for support.
Since then, Keith has continued working to regain his mobility, despite significant back pain and physical challenges along the way.
Having now completed his mile, Keith is determined to keep going, continuing to take steps and raising money for the Foundation’s Move a Mile challenge.
Alan Shearer: “When I first heard about Keith and what he’d been doing for the Foundation, I was absolutely blown away. To go through what he has and then take on a challenge like this to help other people is just incredible, Move a Mile was always about showing that anyone can get involved, no matter their ability or circumstances, and I don’t think there’s a better example of that than Keith. I wanted to come and meet him personally, thank him for everything he’s done and let him know just how much his support means to us. Every pound raised brings us closer to building a second hydrotherapy pool at the Centre and helping even more families across the North East. People like Keith are making a real difference, and I’m incredibly grateful.”
Photo: Alan Shearer Foundation
Keith Dungait: “After my accident, I was told I might never walk again, so to be able to say I’ve now walked a mile is something I’m really proud of. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get here, and some days are much harder than others, but I’ve always been determined to keep going and see what I can achieve. When I saw the Move a Mile challenge, I thought it was something I could get involved in, even if it meant doing it a little differently. I knew it would take me a while, but I wanted to give it a go and hopefully raise some money for a brilliant cause along the way. To have Alan come and visit me and thank me personally means so much. I never expected anything like this when I started, and I’m just pleased that my efforts can help other people and families who need that support.”
The Foundation’s Move a Mile challenge was launched in August as part of its Million Pound Mission, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to walk, run, cycle or move a mile in whatever way they can, make a donation and encourage others to take part.
The campaign hopes to collectively reach 52,719 miles, representing every seat inside Newcastle United’s St James’ Park.
The Million Pound Mission was launched in April 2026 in response to growing demand at the Alan Shearer Centre, which now supports more than 10,000 members and their families across the North East. However, with demand continuing to grow, the existing hydrotherapy pool is struggling to meet the needs of members, leaving families facing limited access to essential therapy sessions.
The Million Pound Mission aims to fund a second pool, increasing capacity, reducing waiting times and ensuring more families can access the support they need.
To find out more about Move a Mile, take part in the challenge or donate, visit: https://www.alanshearerfoundation.org.uk/the-million-pound-mission/move-a-mile/