Exclusive:
Nine-year-old Harvey Goodman is teaming up with Esther Ghey, mum of murdered teen Brianna, for a triathlon to raise funds for Esther’s Peace & Mind UK mental health charity
A nine-year-old charity champion is linking up with the mum of a murdered girl on a fundraising challenge.
Harvey Goodman is teaming up with Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna, 16, was stabbed to death last year. The pair are planning a triathlon to raise cash for Esther’s Peace & Mind UK mental health charity.
With the help of Olympic athletes Mark and Helen Jenkins, and fitness guru Joe Wicks, they will attempt to swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles and run 16 miles over the course of one weekend.
Harvey said he was inspired when he saw Esther, 38, talking about mindfulness at an awards night after losing someone close to him. The youngster said: “I wanted to do something big to make sure other children get the support they need.”
Esther added: “Just knowing that mindfulness and well-being training has really helped Harvey means such a lot to me, because this is the end goal. We want to be able to get this into schools across the whole of England.” And Harvey, who has raised almost £50,000 over the past three years, said: “I feel really amazing – I think this will be my best challenge yet.”
While the schoolboy has already completed a 40-mile trek and an 80-mile bike ride in aid of Alder Hey children’s hospital, Esther admitted: “I am pretty nervous. I’m not as confident as Harvey is. I think I’ve got a lot more creaks and stuff than him in my body but I think we’re going to do lots of training.”
The pair will begin their challenge in their home town of Warrington, Cheshire, and end it at the home of Harvey’s beloved Manchester United. Harvey’s mum, Naiomi Goodman, 30, said: “I’m super proud of him. We really want to make a difference to children going through a tough time.”
Brianna, who was trans, was murdered by 15-year-olds Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe in February 2023.