Harvey Goodman was at an awards night when he heard Brianna’s mum Esther talking about her mission to improve mental health services following her daughter’s murder
A young boy will join forces with tragic Brianna Ghey’s mum in a triathlon fundraising challenge, after being inspired by her mental health message.
At just nine-years-old, Harvey Goodman is already a veteran fundraiser, having raised almost £50,000 in several impressive challenges over the last three years.
Now Harvey will team up with grieving mum Esther Ghey, in a bid to raise £30,000 for her charity Peace & Mind UK, set up in memory of her teenage daughter.
Esther 38 has been campaigning for children’s mental health and wellbeing since Brianna, 16, was stabbed to death by two 15-year-olds in Warrington, Cheshire last year.
The pair will attempt to swim 1.2 miles (1.9 km), cycle 56 miles (90 km) and run 16 miles (25.7) over the course of one weekend in May.
And they’ll be doing it with some star-studded supporters to boot.
Joining them in the challenge will be Olympic triathletes Mark and Helen Jenkins and celebrity fitness expert Joe Wicks.
Harvey said he was inspired when he saw Esther talking about mindfulness at an awards night after losing someone close to him.
The youngster, from Warrington, said: “After losing someone very close to me, I wanted to do something big to honour them and to make sure other children get the support they need.”
Esther’s charity advocates for mental health awareness, equality and inclusion lessons for young people.
She 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.”
Excited Harvey 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, Esther said she is feeling more ‘daunted’ by their upcoming challenge.
She said: “I am pretty nervous. I’m not as confident as Harvey is about the challenge.
“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 start off by swimming in the Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub in Warrington, before heading off from Stockton Heath Primary School for the running and cycling portions of the challenge.
They will end the challenge at the home of Harvey’s beloved manchester -united-fc>Manchester United, Old Trafford stadium.
Harvey’s mum Naiomi Goodman, 30, who also participates in all her son’s challenges and leads all the training sessions said: “I’m super proud for him to want to take on such a big challenge, but also for such an amazing cause as well.
“We really want to make a difference to all those children that might be going through a tough time – we can make a difference to their lives.”
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