A Liverpool man is approaching the end of a 365-day running challenge that has seen him run 5km every day for a year.
Over the last 12 months, David Fitzgerald has ran among sleet, rain, hale, heat and even a number of named storms, but his most notable run to date saw him run alongside Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.
The 37-year-old from Anfield first decided he wanted to take on the challenge last year after becoming more involved in the ADAM foundation.
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The ADAM Foundation was set up in 2018 by the family of Adam Ellison after his tragic murder.
Adam was fatally stabbed in the neck on Market Place, in Prescot, at about 12.40am on November 4, 2017.
The 29-year-old was walking along a pedestrian area before he became involved in an argument with a number of people on a motorbike.
During the devastating attack, he was stabbed with an unknown weapon and fell to the ground.
His friends and a number of passersby went to his aid and called 999 and the offenders rode off in the direction of Tesco supermarket.
Adam was rushed to hospital but sadly died at 2am.
David was first introduced to the foundation a couple of years back when they hosted a talk about knife crime in St Helens College where he worked as a lecturer at the time.
David said: “The talk really struck a cord in me. The family was very similar to mine and Adam was a similar age to me when he got taken.
“From then I just felt like I really wanted to do something to help them.
“I'd never met Adam unfortunately, but I wanted to try and help the family fight for justice.”
David began taking part in the foundation’s charity football games and other fundraising events before being made an official member of the committee at the start of this year.
As the Liverpool man grew closer to the family he became more inspired to raise money and awareness for their cause and that's when his biggest challenge yet was decided on.
David explained: “I’ve raised money already for Cancer Research UK in the last few years as my dad has had cancer three times and my auntie has had it as well.
“Fortunately they're both still with us but that’s due to the amazing work of the charity. So to raise money for them I’ve ran a marathon and ultra-marathon before.
“But because of that, I didn’t know what else I could do that was bigger than an ultra-marathon - so that’s when Ii just thought I would try and run every day for the year and see how I get on.”
The gruelling challenge started on New Year's Day this year and there hasn't been a day so far where David has not committed to a run.
He did admit, however, that “it hasn’t been easy” and there have been days where he has found it especially hard to get out of bed, especially when faced with an illness which left him fatigued and sick.
David said: “I thought at some point I’d get injured, fall over, I’d be ill or I thought covid might disrupt it.
“The day after I did the Liverpool Half Marathon in October I came down with a really bad stomach bug where I was throwing up.
“I couldn't move but I just said to myself I need to go out. I went out with my wife and daughter and did 2.5km but I literally couldn’t move any further so my wife finished it off for me.”
The health and social care lecturer, who now works for The City of Liverpool College, has more than made up for his one sluggish day as he has averaged around 6.8km a day - completing half marathons and 10km runs in this time also.
Keeping him motivated, David said he thinks of Adam, his dad and his auntie every single day.
He said: “I actively think of what I'm doing it for.
“I’ve had some really tough times, like when it’s started lashing down or there has been a storm or my bones are aching and I’ve felt sluggish but I think of my dad, auntie and Adam and that's what pulls me through.
“I think of Adam’s family every single day and I wear shirts with their pictures on and it’s a constant reminder of why I'm doing it.
“It might be hard but it’s nothing on what his family have to endure every day.”
One of the ways he has kept the challenge interesting is by running with different people in different locations across the country.
The Anfield man said he experienced his “best run” of the challenge just earlier this month after he bumped into one of his “heroes” who, to his surprise, became one of his "phenomenal" running partners.
David said: “I’d planned to run on Crosby beach with my auntie and when we arrived right there was Jamie Carragher.
“He was running with some lad called Full Kit Santa - so I went over and asked him for a picture and ended up telling him about my running challenge as they were also raising money.
“He then asked me if he wanted to run with him, which was absolutely crazy.
“He's one of my heroes and I’m a really big Liverpool fan. It was just a one in a million chance.”
Since the start of his year-long challenge, David has raised a total of £4680 for both charities, smashing his initial £1825 goal which would have equated to £1 for every km if he was to run 5km each day.
But despite being so close to the finish line, David is unsure he will stop after his grand finale run on New Year's Eve.
David said: “Part of me thinks ‘I want to carry on to see how long the streak continues for’.
“I’ve built up 365 days running, I’m thinking ‘can I get to 500? Can I get to 1000?’, but then there’s also part of me which thinks about lying on the couch and doing absolutely nothing on New Year's Day."
To donate to David's fundraiser, visit here.
