The Great North Run has always been about more than miles—it’s about grit, heart, and the occasional lunatic idea that inspires the rest of us. This year, that idea belongs to Drew Graham, a former middle-distance runner whose career was cut short by a spinal cord injury in 2014. With the help of his foundation, Gym Possible, and the backing of sports nutrition powerhouse Science in Sport (SiS), Graham is aiming to turn his story into something unforgettable at the 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run.

Graham and a team of six friends are gunning for a Guinness World Record: the fastest half-marathon pushing a wheelchair by a team (male). The plan? Run 13.1 miles in 75 minutes, with each runner taking turns pushing Graham for one lung-bursting minute before peeling off to recover for five.

If that sounds punishing, that’s because it is. But this squad isn’t short on pedigree. Among them: former British half-marathon champion Ryan McLeod, ex-GB marathoner Matt Bond, duathlete Alex Smith, ex-athletes Matt Nicholson and Nick Hooker, plus Graham’s brother Jonathan—once a schools’ medallist before swapping the track for the fells.

From heartbreak to Gym Possible

After his injury, Graham could easily have walked—well, rolled—away from sport entirely. Instead, he built Gym Possible, with locations in Longbenton and Gateshead, creating spaces where wheelchair users can train with specialist personal trainers, supported by the Matt Hampson Foundation. The goal is simple: make fitness accessible to people with physical disabilities, both physically and financially.

“Running has been a huge part of my life since I first raced in the Newcastle Under-9 Championships at eight years old,” Graham said. “As a former middle-distance runner, the Great North Run was always on my list, but after my spinal cord injury I thought that dream was gone.

“With the support of my friends I’ve rediscovered my love for sport and I’m really excited to be taking on a world record attempt with this fantastic team!

“As part of the fundraiser, I’ll also be taking on my own physical challenge—skiing 13.1 miles on a SkiErg on August 29th. I’m thrilled to have SiS on board, whose gels have been a massive help during my long training sessions.”

Fuel for the fight

Science in Sport, the official nutrition partner of the Great North Run, isn’t just slapping a logo on the project. They’re providing the fuelling strategy and training nutrition to help Graham’s team hit that 75-minute mark.

Dan Lampard, Chief Operating Officer of SiS, said:
“The work that Drew and Gym Possible do to provide a safe and fun environment for physically disabled people to exercise is extremely important. By chasing this World Record, they are going to inspire everyone who sees it, while raising awareness for their incredible cause.

“It is a steep challenge that they have set themselves, and we are really pleased to be able to support them in any way we can.”

Bigger than a record

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Blackburn, SiS is no stranger to fuelling elite performance, supplying more than 330 professional teams and athletes worldwide. But this challenge at the Great North Run isn’t about polished professionals—it’s about friends, endurance, and a dream Graham thought was gone.

If they succeed, they’ll not only etch their names into the Guinness record books but also shine a spotlight on Gym Possible’s mission to give disabled athletes the same shot at fitness that everyone else takes for granted.

One thing’s certain: when the gun goes off in Newcastle this September, Graham and his crew won’t just be chasing the finish line—they’ll be chasing history.