Mile challenge for man told he would never walk again

A Newcastle United supporter who was told he would never walk again has completed a mile-long walking challenge.

Keith Dungait suffered a spinal injury after hitting his head in a swimming pool, but decided to take on the Alan Shearer Foundation's Move a Mile campaign.

Managing about 50 steps a day in his garden using his walking frame, he completed his target in just a few weeks, raising almost £3,000 for the charity.

During a visit to Dangait's family home, the former Newcastle United and England player praised him, saying: "I think we are all in awe of Keith".

Dungait said: "Years ago, I was told I'd never walk again. I like a challenge, so I thought, why don't I try and walk a mile?

"When you can walk, you don't think about it [but] when you can't, the mechanics of walking are really hard.

"It's been really good for me because it gets me up and doing stuff every day.

"I had to push myself and it's made me realise that I can do more than I thought I could."

The Move a Mile challenge is aimed at raising £1m to build a second hydrotherapy pool at the foundation's centre in West Denton.

Alan Shearer said: "It's one of the biggest and best stories that's come out of this campaign.

"For him to do that in his garden, taking nearly four or five weeks, and raise nearly £3,000 is unbelievable.

"I think we're all in awe of Keith."

Follow BBC Newcastle on X,Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds.