Local man marks recovery and raises funds as former Newcastle striker visits
A Morpeth resident who has been working to regain mobility since a life-changing accident in 2018 completed a sustained fundraising challenge this month and received a surprise visit from former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer.
The fundraiser, organised to support the Alan Shearer Foundation, saw Keith Dungait walk a total of 2,775 steps around his house and garden. He asked supporters to donate £1 per step and by the time the challenge finished he had raised almost £3,000 towards a new hydropool at the foundation.
Keith, a former rugby player, sustained severe spinal cord injuries in 2018 which left him paralysed from the waist down. Despite tragic prospects that he might never walk again, he has been determined to rebuild his strength and mobility. The Move a Mile campaign run by the Alan Shearer Foundation inspired his fundraising model.
- Challenge: 2,775 steps walked around his home and garden
- Fundraising target and approach: £1 per step, money to go to hydropool provision
- Outcome: close to £3,000 raised and an in-person visit from Alan Shearer
The footage and posts Keith shared on Instagram documenting his daily walks caught Shearer’s attention. The former Newcastle striker later visited Keith’s home to meet him and to receive the cheque in person.
“It’s incredible. I saw it on Instagram and thought ‘wow’. For Keith to take part after what he has been through and is still going through and the commitment to not only do it, but to do it every day for four or five weeks was just fantastic,”
Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, described the fundraising total as “just amazing.” His appearance proved memorable for Keith’s family. Keith’s sons, Ronnie, 16, and Macauley, 13, were reported to be stunned to see the sporting hero standing in their kitchen.
Keith said the combination of his sporting background and the cause itself gave him the motivation to persist with the challenge despite doubts about his ability to complete it. He said:
“I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it, but coming from a rugby background, I knew that I’d give it a good go.”
What this means locally
The story will resonate across Morpeth and the wider North East community where support for regional players and grassroots care initiatives remains strong. The money raised will contribute to the Alan Shearer Foundation’s work providing specialist facilities that can help people with spinal injuries and other mobility needs.
Hydropools are often cited by health professionals and therapists as beneficial for rehabilitation because water reduces weight-bearing stress and allows users to move more freely during therapy. The funds Keith has helped raise will add to the foundation’s capacity to deliver such interventions to people who may otherwise face long waits or travel distances for appropriate facilities.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Steps walked | 2,775 |
| Approximate funds raised | £2,775–£3,000 |
| Family present | Ronnie (16), Macauley (13) |
The visit from a high-profile figure such as Shearer serves a double purpose: it recognises Keith’s personal achievements and shines a light on the needs of people living with spinal injuries across the region. For a town like Morpeth, where community and sporting identity are tightly knit, the event is being welcomed as a positive example of local determination translating into tangible support for accessible rehabilitation facilities.
Local charities and community groups often rely on grassroots campaigns like Keith’s to complement larger funding streams. His efforts are a reminder that individual actions — amplified on social media and endorsed by recognisable faces — can still make a measurable difference to services that support vulnerable people in the North East.
Alan Shearer’s foundation has previously campaigned to improve provision of specialist equipment and therapy. The cheque handover in Keith’s kitchen will now form part of their continuing work to help people regain independence after serious injury.
Residents wishing to support similar schemes or to follow Keith’s progress may find details and updates on social media and through the Alan Shearer Foundation’s own channels.
